Boaters, fishermen, and swimmers across New England now share waters with great white sharks.
Shark sightings in Maine have surged, though experts stress beachgoers face minimal risk of bites.
White sharks often grow nearly 20 feet long, though most remain smaller.
Local Fishermen Encounter Majestic Predators
Clam digger David Lancaster used a drone to capture footage of a 12-foot shark near Scarborough beaches.
He called the shark “magnificent” but warned swimmers to stay alert in the water.
Great Whites Expand Their Range Northward
Greg Skomal, a Massachusetts marine biologist, confirmed sharks now travel past Cape Cod into Maine and Canada.
His team documented hundreds of sharks, noting steady growth in sightings beyond traditional areas.
Shark detections off Halifax rose 2.5 times between 2018 and 2022, according to a recent study.
In Cabot Strait, detections increased almost fourfold, suggesting a significant habitat shift.
The sharks’ average stay in northern waters grew from 48 days to 70, showing growing comfort farther north.
Seal Population Fuels Shark Movement
Skomal explained that conservation laws revived seal numbers across New England and Atlantic Canada.
Seals provide abundant prey, encouraging sharks to explore farther north.
“The expanding prey base means more sharks follow the food,” Skomal said.
Legal Protections Strengthen Shark Survival
U.S. law has banned shark fishing since 1997, giving white sharks critical protection.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature still classifies them as vulnerable.
Massachusetts strengthened fishing restrictions after 2024 incidents of fishermen targeting white sharks.
The state outlawed heavy shoreline gear to protect both sharks and public safety.
Human Encounters Remain Rare
Experts emphasize the rarity of fatal shark bites despite the animals’ power and size.
Fewer than 60 people worldwide have died from white shark bites in recorded history.
Maine recorded its first fatal attack in 2020, when a great white killed Julie Dimperio Holowach.
Ashleigh Novak of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy said sharing safety data helps reduce risks.
She noted, “We aim to adjust human behavior and prevent dangerous encounters.”
