Attacks on humans by great white sharks are very rare. You’re more likely to get struck by lightning during a day at the beach than to suffer a great white bite. Still, it can be helpful to know when a great white has been spotted along a beach. So experts keep data on the movements of the sharks. In recent years, that data has shown great whites on a steady “march” northward. The standard migration range for great whites off the US East Coast has been Florida to southern New England. More rarely, they have also been spotted in the waters off Cape Cod. But shark trackers in Maine and Nova Scotia, Canada, have noted a spike in great white sightings over the past five years. The Maine Department of Marine Resources reports that in 2024, 93 great whites were observed off the coast. Tracking stations following the movements of tagged sharks spotted them. Officials say it’s likely that shark numbers are even higher, since the data doesn’t account for untagged animals. Even farther north, in Nova Scotia, yearly sightings of great whites have multiplied 2.5 times since 2018. That’s according to a paper published this year in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series. Experts point to many factors driving the increase in these sightings farther north. Recent conservation efforts have helped bolster shark numbers. This means there are simply more great whites out there. There are more seals on northern beaches these days, too. They are great whites’ favorite prey. And climate change has warmed the Atlantic Ocean, driving seals and sharks alike to cooler waters. Reflect: What changes in nature or the environment have you noticed around you? Gif of a great white shark courtesy @sharkweek on GIPHY
