A view from the air of the sharks off the coast of Hadera. Photo: Israel Police.

A warning was issued to the Israeli public on Monday not to go diving along the Mediterranean coast near the Hadera power plant, due to the presence of some 150 sharks in the area, the Hebrew news site nrg reported.

According to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), the appearance of the herd — or frenzy — of sharks off Israeli shores is not uncommon during this season. The INPA explained that the power station is a draw for the sharks, because it ejects hot water into the sea.

The INPA said that one reason it had to warn the public was that curiosity has been causing people to dive in the area to catch a glimpse of the sharks and photograph them.

“Encounters with sharks are uncontrollable and can endanger both the divers and the sharks,” the INPA said, adding that sharks are an endangered species and protected by law as such. “This means it is forbidden to harm, disturb, feed or do anything else to them without risking criminal prosecution.”

Watch Israel Police footage of the sharks below: