New Study Enhances Understanding of White Shark Distribution Along Coastal Maine

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), in partnership with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) announced today a study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. The study describes the seasonal occurrence and distribution of the species off the coast of Maine.

Researchers have tracked the movements of white sharks in Maine state waters since 2020, following the state’s first recorded fatal shark attack. With a focus on the southern coastline of Maine, DMR scientists have deployed passive acoustic telemetry receivers from May through November each year to monitor for the presence of tagged sharks. These receivers detect unique signals emitted by small acoustic transmitters (tags) fitted to sharks. The receivers record the date, time, and transmitter number of each signal they detect, providing valuable data on the movements of tagged animals.

“We know through our research and tracking that white sharks that visit Cape Cod travel well beyond these waters,” said Megan Winton, Senior Scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. “This study gives us deeper insight into their movement patterns off the coast of Maine. This work reflects true partnership and will add to the ever-growing body of knowledge on white shark ecology.”

Combining data from acoustic telemetry arrays throughout the Gulf of Maine, this is the first study to characterize the spatiotemporal presence of white sharks in the region. In total, researchers detected more than 100 white sharks that had been tagged off Cape Cod, Massachusetts by DMF with the support of AWSC and off Hilton Head, South Carolina, through a partnership with Outcast Sport Fishing

“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,” said Matt Davis, lead author of the study and scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources. “This work could not have been done without the collaboration of many researchers and organizations, and we thank everyone involved.”

The study’s results provide valuable insights for fisheries management and ongoing conservation efforts related to white sharks in a region that has been historically

understudied. Researchers plan to build upon this work and continue to develop a more comprehensive understanding of movement and habitat use in the region.

For more information, please visit https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science/species-information/white-shark-research.