Nearly a dozen great white sharks were spotted at a popular swimming spot in Maine over just two days this week — prompting warnings from officials who called the activity unprecedented.
At least seven great whites were seen at a sandbar off Pine Point Beach in Scarborough around Tuesday and Wednesday, with some measuring up to 12 feet in length, CBS News reported.
Others measured up to 8 feet, with officials dispatched to monitor the situation noting they all appeared to be juveniles.
One of the sharks spotted off Pine Point Beach. At least 7 were seen over 48 hours earlier this week. ABC8
“We know it’s a place where people recreationally fish in waist-deep water, they typically swim right there,” said Scarborough Marine Resource Officer Daryen Granata.
“We’re just keeping an eye on it,” Granata said, adding that he’d never seen anything like this week’s volume in his decades-long career working the area just south of Portland.
“Usually we’ll see one or two here and there,” he told CBS. “This is a large volume, larger than I’ve seen, and I’ve worked this area for 30-plus years.”
Sharks rarely attack humans; however, when they do, it’s typically when people are mistaken for prey, prompting officials to warn bathers to stay aware of their surroundings and leave if they see schools of fish or seals nearby.
The Pine Point Beach area typically sees one or two white sharks each year, not the seven seen this week alone. ABC8
“Sharks were observed swimming and feeding in nearshore waters. At this time, there have been no reported injuries or aggressive interactions with people,” the Scarborough Fire Department said in a statement.
“The increased activity is believed to be associated with seasonal prey availability, including schools of baitfish and seals.
“Avoid swimming if seals or large schools of fish are present. Stay close to shore and avoid swimming alone. Exit the water immediately if a shark is observed,” the department added.
Numerous boaters and beachgoers captured awe-inspiring footage of the sharks, with one paddleboarder capturing a huge fish slipping ghostly through the green waters just feet beneath him.
But beachgoers are doing their best not to let the sightings faze them.
“I don’t want to get eaten. But no problem, sharks are sharks,” swimmer Mark Coleman said. “They’ll stay out there and I’ll stay here. No worries.”
