Great White Shark Sightings Surge Along Maine Coast Amid Conservation Gains and Warming Waters

In August, veteran lifeguard Greg Wilfert was pulled underwater by a great white shark while swimming off Scarborough, Maine, an episode that reflects a broader surge in shark activity along the coastline. Over a two-day span near Pine Point Beach, a dozen sightings were logged, and beaches across the state were temporarily shut after multiple reports in July and August, with a great white even spotted near Wells Beach over Labor Day weekend.

Scientists attribute the rise to the success of federal protections enacted in the 1990s for sharks and their primary prey, gray seals, which are now supporting larger shark numbers as they reach maturity. Maine’s Department of Natural Resources uses acoustic telemetry to tag and monitor some sharks, though not all are tagged, making exact counts difficult. Researchers also note that warming ocean temperatures and shifting prey habitats may be extending the sharks’ seasonal presence, while the proliferation of personal recording devices is making encounters more visible to the public.