Shark sightings increase along Northeast U.S. coast

Increased shark activity has been observed along the Northeast United States coast this summer, including sightings of great white sharks in Maine and a rare hammerhead catch in Rhode Island.

In Maine, great white sharks are frequently seen near coastal waters during July, August, and September. This seasonal pattern is driven by the presence of seals and fish, which serve as primary food sources. As sharks mature, they increasingly follow lipid-rich marine mammals like seals into nearshore waters. Maine has been conducting a white-shark monitoring effort since 2020 in partnership with organizations such as the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

In Rhode Island, a scalloped hammerhead shark was recently caught and released by surfcasters. While hammerhead sightings in the New England surf are rare, researchers suggest that warming waters may be contributing to their increasing presence in the region. This follows other notable sightings in the area, including a scalloped hammerhead tagged by the Atlantic Shark Institute off Block Island.