Great white sharks are heading north
- Sightings of great white sharks are increasing in New England and Atlantic Canada, particularly in Maine where they were once rarely spotted.
- Scientists link this rise to the successful conservation of seal populations, which provide an abundant food source for the sharks.
- New data indicates that great white sharks are extending their range further north into areas like New Hampshire, Maine, and Nova Scotia, and are spending longer periods in these waters.
- Despite the increased presence, dangerous encounters between great white sharks and humans remain extremely rare, with Maine recording its first fatal attack in 2020.
- Coastal communities, including fishermen and beachgoers, are learning to adapt to the growing presence of these sharks, viewing it as a new reality.