A shark was spotted at Sentosa’s Palawan Beach on the afternoon of 1 September, prompting a temporary halt to swimming and water activities as a precautionary measure. The shark, identified as a blacktip reef shark, was seen circling the waters, leading to immediate action by Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) to ensure the safety of beachgoers. Activities have since resumed after confirming no further shark sightings.
## Background
The sighting was confirmed by a spokesperson from SDC, who stated that the shark was seen at approximately 3:15 PM. The blacktip reef shark, a species native to Singapore, is classified as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is considered endangered locally. The incident underscores the importance of marine conservation efforts in the region.
## Shark sighting caught on video
Maureen O’Hara captured the shark sighting on video and shared it on Facebook. Her daughter was swimming in the lagoon when O’Hara noticed the shark. “To my surprise, it was a blacktip shark circling the area four or five times,” she said. O’Hara immediately asked her daughter to exit the water and recorded the encounter. In the video, someone splashes water onto the shark, prompting O’Hara to chastise them for doing so. Lifeguards instructed everyone to leave the water as a precaution. O’Hara mentioned that this was her first time seeing a shark in Singapore waters and speculated that the lagoon’s netting might have been temporarily opened, allowing the shark to enter. She also noted that a smaller shark was spotted nearby by other beachgoers.
## Sentosa’s Beach Patrol Officers and Sentosa Rangers evacuated guests
The SDC spokesperson confirmed that Beach Patrol Officers and Sentosa Rangers were on the ground to evacuate guests from the waters immediately. “As a precaution, swimming and water activities were also halted for Palawan Beach, indicated by the flags put up by our Beach Patrol Officers,” the spokesperson said. After drone inspections confirmed no further shark sightings in Sentosa’s lagoons, activities resumed. “The safety of our guests is of paramount importance to us, and regular protocols are undertaken by our Beach Patrol Officers to monitor the safety of our waters,” the spokesperson added. Guests are advised to contact the Sentosa Rangers at 1800-RANGERS (7264377) for assistance in emergencies.
## Shark is native to Singapore
Senior Lecturer Zeehan Jaafar from the National University of Singapore’s Biological Sciences Department confirmed that blacktip reef sharks are known to occur in Singapore. “This sighting of a live shark signals that our marine conservation efforts are starting to bear fruit,” she said. Jaafar explained that these sharks are not known to be aggressive and typically feed on smaller fishes and invertebrates. Blacktip reef sharks can grow up to 1.6 metres in length. She advised maintaining a safe distance from the shark and not attempting to touch it if encountered in the water.
## Related stories
For more information on similar incidents, you can read about a dead shark found with a plastic cup at Palawan Beach [here](https://mothership.sg/2022/08/dead-shark-plastic-cup-palawan-beach/).
