Shark Bites Outrigger Canoe in Santa Barbara Channel, authorities say

A woman paddled to safety after a 6-foot shark bit her outrigger canoe three miles from the Santa Barbara Harbor, authorities said.

The woman told officials she was paddling in her single-person canoe about 3:50 p.m. Sunday when the shark struck.

Harbor Operations Director Mick Kronman says no warning signs will be posted because the attack was so far off the shore, or areas where most of the public takes part in recreation. “It didn’t warrant that,” he said.

“We really don’t see it as an immediate threat to the local public so we don’t post advisories for something like this,” said Kronman.

The bite was on a small balancing piece for the outrigger called the ama.

“The ama is the stabilizing arm that comes off the side of an outrigger and the shark bit that actually twice, and the second time she lost her balance and fell out of the outrigger canoe, to hear her tell it, but she was able to get back in and the shark did not harm her,” said Kronman.

“We haven’t had an attack in city waters, ever, according to city records. And may it stay that way,” said Kronman.

Recently however, off the coast of Vandenberg Air Force Base two kayakers were rescued after shark attacks about an hour apart in the same area.

Agencies/Canadajournal