New Study Reveals the Surprising U.S. Location Where Sharks Are Now Found

It is not uncommon for great white sharks to be found off the coast of the eastern seaboard. In recent years, populations of white sharks have increased in areas such as New York and Massachusetts. The numbers are such that great white sharks have become an expected annual visitor rather than an odd sighting in the Atlantic Ocean.

New York and Massachusetts are not the only states where great white sharks are making their presence known. In fact, great white sharks are taking to new waters in numbers not seen in decades, all of which has been documented by a new study that tracked dozens of sharks off the Maine coast.

Dozens of Great White Sharks Now Tracked Off Maine’s Coast

It is not a figment of anyone’s imagination. Great white sharks have been showing up off the coast of Maine in larger numbers for over a decade. This was not seen as a problem until the Pine Tree State had its first great white shark fatality in 2020 after one ventured into shallow waters and attacked.

To determine what has led to more than 100 individual sharks spending time off the coast of Maine, researchers compiled research over the last several years. Their research was subsequently published in a March 2025 study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

Researchers from multiple organizations, including the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and more, contributed to the study after a swimmer off the coast of Harpswell became the first death by shark attack in the state’s history.

The data collected showed the patterns of great white sharks off the coast of Maine. Consequently, according to Matt Davis of the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the study’s lead author, the months when the sharks were most active, their proximity to shore, and the time of day they were spotted could all be predicted.

Had it not been for the collaboration of all the agencies, however, data of this magnitude would never have been possible. “We are excited to have this study published and continue to expand our understanding of white sharks in the western North Atlantic and the coastal waters in Maine,” Davis explains. “This work could not have been done without the collaboration of many researchers and organizations, and we thank everyone involved.”

What this study did not discuss is why more great white sharks are being found off the coast of Maine, and specifically in the Gulf of Maine, than have been there in decades.

Why Great White Sharks Are Being Found in the Gulf of Maine

The Gulf of Maine has long been home to a great white shark or two as they bulk up in preparation for wintertime. However, over the last handful of years, the population of great white sharks has increased from a handful to over 100 individual sharks. Why the great white shark population has been increasing off the coast of Maine is not specifically clear. There are several theories why it has happened, though, all of which may have played a part in these creatures no longer being a novelty in Maine.

It was always thought to be too cold in Maine for great white sharks to migrate for any period of time that far north. Because of this, beachgoers and surfers never gave a second thought to great white sharks being in the ocean. But with ocean temperatures warming due to climate change, the water off the coast of Maine is no longer too cold to support great white shark populations.

The Gulf of Maine is constantly dealing with “ocean heatwaves” as the surface temperature of the water increased 97% faster than other bodies of water around the world. Both 2021 and 2022 were record levels for ocean surface water temperature, increasing 4.15°F and 3.72°F, respectively. The temperature of the water hovering between 55°F and 60°F makes for perfect conditions for great whites to thrive.

Additionally, the seal population in Maine has made a miraculous comeback since the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed in 1972. A population that was once as low as 6,000 has now flourished, with five species of seals inhabiting the Gulf of Maine. This comeback, in conjunction with the warmer waters, has drawn hungry great white sharks in large numbers.

Areas Great White Sharks Traditionally Thrive

While a few great white sharks have been known to migrate up to Maine to feed during the summer and fall before heading south to warmer waters as the seasons change, the last handful of years have seen a remarkable jump in just how many are off the coast.

Before the onslaught of great whites made their way to Maine, it was more common to see the sharks off the coast of North and South Carolina and Virginia. It was not common for shark attacks to occur further north. Instead, the sharks found plenty of prey in the Atlantic Ocean to not need to move in a northern direction.

However, as seals became more abundant off the coast of New York, Massachusetts, and Maine, the great white sharks followed. In doing so, the sharks expanded their range off the East Coast and were no longer seen as an anomaly but a permanent fixture in the warmer summer ocean instead.

How Beachgoers Are Being Kept Safe in Maine

Great white sharks have always been found in the Gulf of Maine. The difference now is that thanks to conservation efforts, the population has exploded. Consequently, more efforts have had to be put forth to keep beachgoers off the coast of Maine safe while enjoying the sun and surf during the summer.

Given the number of great white sharks in the Gulf of Maine, biologists from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy have gone to the lengths of tagging the white sharks to see not only where the great white sharks are in real time, but also to see the ocean from the vantage point of the sharks.

“We’re using those tags to learn more about their predatory behavior,” Dr. Megan Winton of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy explains.

Acoustic receivers have also been very helpful in tracking great white sharks. These receivers, installed by Maine DMR near Bailey Island and Popham Beach. Given this is near where the tragic fatality occurred, researchers want to know more about why sharks come close to the shore and be able to warn people when they do. It is both these and the tags that have changed policy when it comes to monitoring great white sharks off the coast of Maine, something that was never deemed necessary until 2020.

Additionally, beaches in Maine have been very quick to close, according to American Surf Magazine, whenever a shark is spotted in the water.

Tags and beach closures can only go so far to keep those who want to enjoy the water safe. However, there are things beachgoers can do to help keep encounters with great white sharks to a minimum. Those things include, but are not limited to:

• Stay out of regions where seals are pulling out of the water
• Stay out of the water if there are circling birds or dolphins and seals feeding, as sharks are likely nearby
• Do not go out in the ocean alone
• Stay out of the water at sunrise and sunset, as great whites are most active and have poor visibility during that time
• Avoid splashing erratically in the ocean
• Pay attention to signs on the beach and stay out of the water if sharks have been spotted

The increase of great white sharks is a positive thing for the East Coast. It demonstrates that the hard work in helping the species rebound has been successful. It just means that those who venture into the ocean need to remember they are entering the sharks’ environment and take the proper precautions to stay safe while on the coast, not only this summer but throughout the year.