MAINE ALSO A SHARK HOTSPOT
While much of the local shark focus has been along Cape Cod, researchers in northern New England have new data on great white shark hotspots and detections.
Shark scientists in Maine, where a woman was killed by a great white a few summers ago, have released their annual update on white shark monitoring close to shore.
The new data reveals a 63% jump in white shark detections last year — 1,700 shark detections at acoustic receivers, which was nearly 700 more detections than the previous year’s total of 1,042. When a tagged shark swims near an acoustic receiver, a detection is recorded.
Overall, 29 great white sharks were recorded during the 2023 survey, bringing the total number to 81 sharks since the survey began in 2020.
“For reference, there are approximately 250-300 white sharks currently carrying detectable acoustic tags from New England,” reads the report from the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
When it comes to shark hotspots, the greatest number of sharks were detected at Hermit Island and Ragged Island — close to where the fatal shark bite happened in 2020. These sites are historically among the most active, both by the number of white sharks and by the number of days where a shark was detected.
“Despite detecting less sharks than Hermit Island, the receiver at Ragged Island was visited nearly 40% more often and observed sharks on 29 different days,” the report reads. “The receiver at Bailey’s Island also observed notable white shark activity, with nine different sharks detected across 45 separate instances on 25 different days.”
The shark research program from the Maine Department of Marine Resources is used to bolster public safety at beaches, and provide data in support of scientific research and outreach.
The Maine researchers began monitoring white shark activity in the Gulf of Maine in August 2020 in response to increased public interest. Julie Dimperio
Holowach, a 63-year-old woman from New York City, was killed by a shark in Maine in July 2020 — the state’s first confirmed fatal shark bite.
Holowach was killed by a great white shark off Harpswell’s Bailey Island. Holowach was swimming with her daughter about 20 yards from the shore when she was bitten. Holowach was wearing a wetsuit at the time.
With data combined across years, white shark activity has been highest during the months of July, August, and September. Sharks have been detected as early as May and as late as November along Maine.
The apex predators spend an average of 10 minutes in an area before leaving, but it varies.
Detected sharks have ranged in size from 7 feet to 16 feet from snout to tail tip, with an average estimated size of more than 10 feet. Most white sharks were either subadults or juveniles.
“Allied Whale and Marine Mammals of Maine opportunistically alerted this program of instances involving potential shark predation on seals,” the report reads. “We also thank the fishermen, beach officials, and citizen scientists who make our sightings data and receiver work possible.”