Overview
- A Scarborough lifeguard was pulled about 5 to 6 feet underwater when a great white grabbed his rescue torpedo on Saturday, and he freed himself and swam to shore without injury.
- Scarborough Beach State Park was closed to swimming for roughly an hour while lifeguards and public safety teams assessed the water and nearby beaches have seen temporary restrictions after additional sightings.
- New England Aquarium expert John Chisholm and local biologists reviewed and corroborated the encounter, saying many of the sharks appear to be juveniles roughly 6 to 12 feet long and that counts in the area may exceed a dozen.
- Officials and researchers are using tools such as the Sharktivity tracker, drone observations, and coordinated patrols to monitor activity and issue safety guidance rather than impose broad long-term beach shutdowns.
- Experts link the rise in nearshore white shark sightings to seasonal patterns and warmer Gulf of Maine waters along with growing seal and forage populations, which could mean more short-term closures and increased surf-zone caution for beachgoers.