California resident Giancarlo Thomae captured footage of a great white shark swimming near a kayaker in New Brighton Beach in Monterey Bay on June 24.

Giancarlo Thomae is a marine biologist who has been documenting the increase in great white sharks sightings in Santa Cruz County for the past four years. He and his team spotted at least two dozen sharks in the area over the weekend, no injuries were reported.

Thomae believes the great white population has made a resurgence after being threatened by poaching. Northeastern Pacific great white sharks are protected under the California Endangered Species Act. Credit: Giancarlo Thomae via Storyful