An Alabama resident captured the attention of shark lovers when he shared an impressive view of a group of sharks swimming in the shallow water earlier this week.
The footage, captured from an apartment balcony in Orange Beach showed a group of sharks swimming in the shallow surf on September 7.
“Sharks are very common there and this is very normal to see. Especially when the water is calm/clear and there is no surf,” Jory Trosclair, who lives in an apartment overlooking the beach, told Newsweek.
“Shallow water is a great place for sharks to corner baitfish in… That’s what they are doing. They are always there in these numbers but you are able to see them today due to the water clarity,” he said.
He shared the video on Reddit, where it drew comments from fellow shark enthusiasts.
Shark sightings in Alabama
Marine experts and local authorities affirm that sightings like this, while impressive, are not cause for alarm.
The Gulf Coast hosts an estimated 50 shark species, with 20 to 30 commonly encountered near shore, most notably Atlantic sharpnose, spinner, blacktip, and blacknose sharks. Last year there was even a rare sighting of a great white shark off the Alabama coast.
Of these species, blacktips and spinners are best known for their schooling behavior and coastal presence, and are most likely to be the sharks in the video.
Orange Beach has seen very few shark attacks in recent years. In fact, fewer than five attacks have occurred across Baldwin County’s beaches over the past two decades, and none have been fatal.
Shark safety in Alabama
While shark sightings are not unusual in warm months, safety experts advise caution—particularly in the early morning or evening when sharks are most active. Local authorities encourage swimmers to stick to designated areas, swim in groups, avoid wearing shiny jewelry, and minimize splashing, which can mimic prey distress signals.
Earlier this year, a new shark alert system was established in Alabama under legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey in May 2025. The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there’s been a shark attack nearby.
The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle in 2024.
“This bill will help prevent future attacks,” Gribbin said about the legislation. “It’s like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack.”
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