Shark that bit swimmer in Del Mar identified as great white

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The great white sharks in San Diego are top of mind for scientists working on a host of initiatives to better understand these powerful and mysterious predators.

Professor Chris Lowe from Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab says they’ve identified the shark that bit the swimmer in Del Mar in early June.

“The DNA came back confirming it was white shark, and then based on the examination of the bite wound, the team, which includes state biologists, concluded that it was probably about nine feet,” Lowe said.

Shark Lab has tagged hundreds of white sharks over the last few years and says they rarely ever see aggressive behavior in the juvenile shite sharks.

“I really don’t think it wasn’t predation-related, it’s possible. More than likely it was defensive-related, and the person was close. It hit them, but it didn’t hit them like a 600-pound animal nine feet long would hit them,” Lowe said.

The victim,