Nearly a dozen sharks were spotted off Pine Point Beach in Scarborough, Maine, prompting town officials to monitor the water with drones and urge beachgoers to use extra caution.
What's happening?
According to WMTW, one sighting involved two young great whites swimming beneath a fisherman on a paddleboard, and Scarborough Harbor Master Daryen Granata said officials also observed a school of seven to 10 young sharks just offshore near Pine Point Beach.
To keep watch for more activity near shore, the town has been using drones to scan the water.
That location is drawing concern, Granata said, because people often reach it on foot at low tide and it is also a common fishing area.
As Granata explained, "Where the shark was seen is in the area where, at low tide, you can walk right out that far off of Pine Point Beach."
Scarborough has not put any beach closures or swimming limits in place. Instead, officials are asking visitors to stay alert and report shark sightings right away.
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Why does it matter?
This cluster of sightings took place in a heavily used recreational area, where swimmers, anglers, and paddleboarders can all end up in the same shallow water.
The state's only documented shark attack occurred in July 2020, when a great white killed a woman who was swimming near Bailey Island, according to WMTW.
As BBC Future has reported, attacks by wild animals are often linked to humans moving into or interacting more closely with the spaces those animals use.
Granata said August is a common month for shark sightings in Maine because of the water temperature.
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What's being done?
Rather than closing the beach, Scarborough is relying on drone surveillance and public warnings while continuing to allow access.
Officials advise staying aware of your surroundings, especially in places people can walk out to at low tide or where fishing is common. If a shark is seen nearby, experts recommend leaving the water calmly.
If someone finds themselves close to a shark, experts advise avoiding sudden movements or splashing, backing away gently while facing it, and staying clear of schools of fish or seals when possible.
Granata said, "The concern is a lot of people walk out there as the tide goes in or is coming out, and there are a lot of people that fish out there."
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