Maine surfers adapt to rising shark sightings off Scarborough

Surfers along Maine's southern coast are adjusting to a recent increase in shark activity near Pine Point Beach in Scarborough. City manager Danielle West, who was surfing at Pine Point when she saw a seal, noted that seals often attract sharks. She later surfed at nearby Higgins Beach, staying alert for seals and fins.

Local business owners, including Andy McDermott of Blackpoint Surf Shop and Donavyn Corcoran of Liquid Dreams Surf Shop, say the sightings have not deterred customers. They advise surfers to ride in groups, avoid murky water, and be especially cautious during early morning and evening hours when sharks are most active. Maine has recorded only one fatal shark attack—a woman swimming off Bailey Island in 2020—and the International Shark Attack Files estimate the odds of a fatal encounter at about one in 4.3 million.