First Underwater Great White Shark Photo Captured Maine Coast

Recent sightings and photography highlight the presence and growing numbers of great white sharks in the northeastern U.S. coastal waters. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app has been actively alerting the public to great white shark sightings near Chatham, Cape Cod, helping raise awareness and promote safety through crowd-sourced data verified by researchers. Meanwhile, National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry captured what is believed to be the first underwater photo of a great white shark off Maine's coast, an area where these sharks have become more common due to conservation efforts. Marine biologists note that while great whites are flourishing in the Gulf of Maine, the risk of shark attacks on humans remains very low. Historical data and archaeological findings show that white sharks have long inhabited these waters, though populations declined significantly in the 20th century due to fishing practices before recent recoveries. Additionally, in Florida, an 11-foot-8-inch shark was caught and tagged for research, illustrating ongoing scientific efforts to monitor shark populations along U.S. coastlines.