Maine DMR urges swimmers, paddlers and surfers to be shark safe this summer

Summer is in full swing and more people are enjoying time on coastal waters. The Maine Department of Marine Resources wants to remind swimmers, paddlers and surfers to be safe in or on the water.

“While the relative risk of a shark encounter is very small, risks should always be minimized as much as possible when engaging in any water activity,” DMR said in a press release.

The chance of interacting with a shark can be reduced if you follow this advice:

• If you decide to swim, surf or paddle, be aware of your surroundings
• Stay close to the coast
• Swimming, paddling and surfing in groups
• Avoid areas where there are seals or schools of fish
• Avoid cloudy or poorly visible water
• Avoid shiny jewelry in or on the water
• Limit splashes
• Avoid swimming at sunrise/sunset when light is poor
• Please adhere to all signage on the beach and follow the instructions of the lifeguards.
• Additional advice is available at https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/reduce-risk/swimmers/

If you see what you think is a great white shark and would like to have it confirmed as a species, a form is now available on the DMR website that provides a convenient way to submit photos and a description of what you see to the Maine DMR Science Office. Once the information is received, a DMR scientist will review the information and any images you upload and respond via email.

Data collected through this form will also be shared with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy for upload to their Sharktivity app. The app provides users with a summary of shark activity detected by acoustic receivers, in addition to shark sightings. Information and app downloads can be found at https://www.atlanticwhiteshark.org/sharktivity-app

Information about DMR’s white shark research is available at https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science/species-information/white-shark-research

Stay safe and enjoy our coastal waters.