The cold waters off the coast of Maine were historically considered safe from large sharks, unlike regions farther south. This perception has shifted due to rare, documented encounters indicating a change in the marine environment. The increasing presence of certain shark species in the Gulf of Maine has raised questions about the actual frequency of attacks in this northern New England state. Understanding the documented history of these interactions and the species involved is key to accurately assessing the risk in Maine’s coastal waters.
Maine’s Official Shark Encounter History
The documented history of shark attacks in Maine is extremely limited, highlighting the rarity of these events. According to the International Shark Attack File, Maine has recorded only two unprovoked shark encounters. Prior to 2020, the state had never recorded a fatal shark attack.
The first recorded incident occurred in 2010 when a diver was bitten by an estimated eight-foot Porbeagle shark off Burnt Cove, near Eastport. The shark only bit the diver’s camera. The second event was the state’s first recorded fatality on July 27, 2020, off Bailey Island in the Casco Bay region.
The victim, 63-year-old Julie Dimperio Holowach, was swimming approximately 60 feet from shore when she was fatally bitten. Experts confirmed the attacking species was a Great White Shark using a tooth fragment recovered from the scene. This remains the only fatality ever recorded in Maine’s waters.
Identification of Local Shark Species
The primary species of concern in Maine waters is the Great White Shark, responsible for the state’s only fatal attack. These apex predators are expanding their summer range northward into the Gulf of Maine. This trend is linked to environmental conservation efforts, specifically the successful recovery and growth of the gray and harbor seal populations, which created an abundant prey base.
Researchers have documented increased Great White activity using acoustic receivers placed along the coast. They detected over 100 individual tagged sharks between 2012 and 2023. These detections show the sharks are present in shallow water, often less than 65 feet deep, with activity peaking between July and September.
Maine also hosts other large shark species, including the Porbeagle shark involved in the 2010 incident, and the Basking Shark. Basking Sharks are often mistaken for Great Whites due to their size. However, they are harmless filter feeders that pose no threat to humans.
Safety Measures for Maine Waters
Safety recommendations focus on minimizing the chances of a shark mistaking a person for a seal, their preferred prey. Swimmers should avoid areas where seals congregate, such as near haul-out sites or where large schools of fish are present, as these draw in sharks. The 2020 fatal attack involved a swimmer wearing a wetsuit, which may have contributed to the mistaken identity.
Ocean users are advised to stay in shallower water and remain close to shore, as most shark detections occur in shallow depths. Following the fatal incident, some state parks restricted swimming to waist-level or shallower water. The state has also implemented a network of acoustic receivers along the southern coast, including areas like York and Kennebunk, to track tagged Great White Sharks. The public can report shark sightings through a dedicated state resource.