🦈Great White Sharks Spotted Off Maine Coast This Summer
Shark sightings off Maine are on the rise, but why?
TL;DR
Great white sharks have been spotted off the coast of Maine this summer, with a dozen sightings in just two days near Pine Point Beach. Conservation efforts and climate change are likely contributing factors.
Great white sharks have been spotted off the coast of Maine this summer, with a dozen sightings in just two days near Pine Point Beach. This uptick in sightings is likely due to successful conservation efforts and climate change, which has warmed the waters off Maine. The Atlantic has seen a series of marine heat waves, and El Niño is boosting global heat further. Conservation efforts for great whites and gray seals in the 1990s could be helping to increase populations along the East Coast. However, the direct effect of climate change on great white sharks is still unclear, with the knock-on effects of climate change, such as warmer ocean temperatures changing certain prey species' habitat range, being more likely to impact great whites.
Key Points
A dozen great white shark sightings were reported in two days near Pine Point Beach in August.
Maine's state shark monitoring system uses acoustic telemetry technology to track sharks.
Federal protections were put in place for great whites and gray seals in the 1990s.
The Atlantic has seen a series of marine heat waves, boosting global heat further with El Niño.
Great white males take 26 years to reach adulthood, while females can take up to 33 years.
Why It Matters
If you're a beachgoer in Maine, you might want to keep an eye out for great white sharks this summer. The uptick in sightings is likely due to successful conservation efforts and climate change, which has warmed the waters off Maine. However, the direct effect of climate change on great white sharks is still unclear, with the knock-on effects of climate change, such as warmer ocean temperatures changing certain prey species' habitat range, being more likely to impact great whites.
Comments
Be the first to comment
Enjoyed this article?
Get it daily. 7am. Free. Reads in 5 minutes.
Join 3,482 builders reading daily.