Shark sightings have become more frequent along the southern Maine coast this summer, prompting local law enforcement to advise beachgoers to exercise caution. Multiple white sharks have been observed on camera near popular beaches, with reports of sightings occurring daily in some areas.
Daryen Granata, harbor master and marine resource officer for Scarborough, reported an increase in shark sighting reports beginning in early July. These sightings have been observed off Pine Point Beach and have since shifted to the Scarborough Beach State Park and Higgins Beach areas. Granata noted that while juvenile sharks have been seen more commonly in recent years, it is less clear if this indicates a greater overall shark population.
Researchers suggest that several factors may be contributing to the perceived increase in sightings. Favorable beach weather has led to more people visiting the coast, and the proliferation of drones and smartphone cameras allows for more frequent documentation and reporting of sharks. According to Matt Davis, a marine resource scientist at the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the number of reported sightings is often influenced by good weather and the presence of beachgoers.
"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."
Experts also point to the recovery of white shark populations, which have been gradually increasing since federal protections were implemented in the 1990s. The growing seal population along the Maine coast provides a significant food source for these apex predators. Dr. Walt Golet, an assistant professor of marine sciences at the University of Maine, noted that the current shark numbers might be closer to their natural population size in decades.
"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," Golet explained. "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."
Additionally, the abundance of bait fish like striped bass and Atlantic menhaden along the coast is thought to attract juvenile white sharks. Researchers also hypothesize that warming ocean temperatures could lead sharks to spend longer periods in the Gulf of Maine, potentially making frequent sightings a more common occurrence.
In response to the heightened activity, the Scarborough Police Department is urging vigilance. Recommended safety measures include avoiding swimming at dawn and dusk when sharks are more active, never swimming alone, and staying in shallower, waist-deep water. Beachgoers are also advised to avoid murky water and to remove any jewelry before entering the ocean. Individuals with open wounds are also cautioned to stay out of the water.
"Just be cognizant of what you're doing and where you are," Granata advised. "Just have good situational awareness, that's all."