A summer of shark sightings in Maine
Authorities are asking people heading to Maine beaches to stay alert in the water after multiple white sharks were recorded on camera. Researchers say white shark sightings have increased this year, though the jump may be tied to strong beach weather and more people deliberately watching for sharks.
SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Southern Maine is seeing more shark activity this summer, prompting local law enforcement to warn swimmers and beachgoers to use caution after several white sharks were spotted and filmed near popular beaches.
Marine researchers say reports of white shark sightings are higher than usual this season. But they caution that the numbers may not necessarily mean there are more sharks in the water, as sunny weather and increased public interest can drive more reports.
“I would say there’s no question that there’s been a lot more sightings this year. Does that translate into a higher number of sharks is a little bit of a nuanced question. There’s a lot of things to consider in there,” said Dr. Walt Golet, assistant professor of marine sciences at the University of Maine.
A sign warning beachgoers of shark sightings at Pine Point Beach, Maine. (Amy Galo)
Matt Davis, a marine resource scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, said sighting data can be valuable, but it is also shaped by how many people are on the coast and paying attention. “While sighting reports are very helpful, the number of sightings reported to us is often influenced by nice weather and the number of people at the beach,” Davis said. “We’ve had great weather this year for beach tourism, and we also have a number of people with drones actively looking for sharks, so sightings are high.”
In Scarborough, Harbor Master and Marine Resource Officer Daryen Granata said police started receiving a steady stream of shark sighting reports in early July. Some of those encounters were captured on video, adding to concern among residents and visitors.
“They were off of Pine Point Beach for a substantial amount of time,” Granata said. “They’ve kind of migrated now. They’re more off the Scarborough Beach State Park and Higgins Beach area at this point. We’re still seeing them on a daily basis. Still to this day, and it’s been, you know, three weeks at this point.”
People walk along the shore at a beach in Scarborough, Maine. (Amy Galo)
Granata, who has lived in Scarborough for more than 30 years, said shark sightings have become much more common in recent years, especially sightings of juvenile sharks. But whether that means there are actually more sharks in the Gulf of Maine is less clear.
“We have all this drone technology. We have all the cell phone videos. We’ve got a lot of higher-grade technology than we did, you know, 10 or 15, 20 years ago. So we’re seeing them,” said Granata.
Granata said the police department captures its own drone footage of sharks, as do independent photographers and beachgoers. Social media has added another stream of reported sightings, all of which can contribute to the perception that there are more sharks in the area.
“Previously, people weren’t looking for sharks with the same intensity or aerial equipment,” said Davis.
Researchers say white shark populations have been slowly recovering for decades after the federal government put protections in place in the 1990s. Maine’s seal population has also grown, providing a key food source for white sharks.
“It’s very possible that the number of white sharks we see now is more reflective of their natural population size, or at least the closest it’s been to the natural population size in several decades,” explained Davis. “Think of this as a population success story in that the ocean is regaining one of its apex predators to help balance the food chain.”
“If you protect the food and protect the predator, it makes sense that you see this rebound especially since the generation time for white sharks is about 25 to 30 years,” said Golet. “I also think that there’s a lot of bait around along the Maine coast in the form of striped bass and Atlantic menhaden, both of which are eaten by juvenile white sharks, which is what we have in high numbers.”
Researchers say warming ocean temperatures could eventually lead sharks to remain in the Gulf of Maine for longer periods. That could make frequent shark sightings a more regular occurrence along the coast.
Beachgoers enjoy the warm weather at Pine Point Beach. (Amy Galo)
“There are definitely more sharks in Maine than I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” said Kelsey Donohue, who’s lived in Scarborough her whole life. “Like growing up here, we used to joke around about sharks, but we would be like, ‘oh, we live in Maine, so we never see sharks!'”
“This really is the first time that I’ve heard for Pine Point that we had a shark sighting,” said Betty MacLeod, longtime Scarborough resident.
The Scarborough Police Department is urging people to stay vigilant while in the water.
Officials recommend that people swimming in areas where sharks have been spotted avoid dawn and dusk, when sharks can be more active, and never swim alone. They also recommend avoiding murky water and remaining in waist-deep water or shallower.
Beachgoers with open wounds should stay out of the water. Officials also advise swimmers to remove jewelry before entering the water.
“Just be cognizant of what you’re doing and where you are,” said Granata. “Just have good situational awareness, that’s all.”
