Increased Sightings and Adapting to Their Presence in Northern Waters

Rick Clough, a fisherman with four decades of experience, encountered a great white shark off the coast of Maine. The shark, estimated to be about eight feet long, surprised him. While not fearful of the ocean, Clough admitted the sighting made him reconsider urchin diving.

Boaters, beachgoers, and fishermen in New England and Atlantic Canada are becoming accustomed to the presence of great white sharks. Sightings of these apex predators are increasing in areas like Maine, where they were once rare. Scientists attribute the rise in sightings to the growing seal population, a primary food source for the sharks. Despite their size, which can reach nearly twenty feet, shark bites on humans remain uncommon.

David Lancaster, a commercial clam digger, used a drone to observe a twelve-foot shark near Scarborough's beaches. He described the animal as impressive but also acknowledged the need for swimmers to be aware of the sharks.

Sightings of great whites have become more frequent off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Data indicates the sharks are venturing further north into New Hampshire, Maine, and beyond. Research shows a significant increase in shark detections off Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in the Cabot Strait. The average time sharks spend in these northern waters has also increased, suggesting they are becoming more comfortable in these areas.

The successful conservation of seals, thanks to laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act, is a key factor in the sharks' northward movement. The growing seal population provides a plentiful food source. Great white sharks also benefit from protections, including a ban on fishing them in U.S. federal waters.

In Massachusetts, fishing regulations were strengthened after fishermen targeted white sharks. The state prohibited the use of certain heavy fishing gear in areas where white sharks are commonly found. Authorities believe targeting white sharks from the beach is unsafe.

Dangerous encounters between white sharks and humans are rare. Worldwide, there have been fewer than sixty fatal great white shark bites on humans in recorded history. The first recorded fatal shark attack in Maine occurred in 2020. Experts provide information to mitigate human behavior and reduce negative encounters between humans and sharks.

Social media has amplified shark sightings in recent summers. The presence of sharks is something people in New England, including fishermen and surfers, are learning to accept.