Shark sightings surge along southern Maine coast as experts explain what's driving the spike

Shark sightings are on the rise this summer in southern Maine, with local law enforcement urging beachgoers to be cautious in the water as several white sharks have been caught on camera.

Researchers say reported white shark sightings are up this year, though the increase may partly reflect favorable beach weather and more people actively looking for the predators.

"I would say there’s no question that there’s been a lot more sightings this year.

Does that translate into a higher number of sharks is a little bit of a nuanced question.

There’s a lot of things to consider in there," said Dr.

Walt Golet, assistant professor of marine sciences at the University of Maine.

MULTIPLE SHARKS SPOTTED AT POPULAR BEACH THAT SAW DEADLY ATTACK 5 YEARS AGO "While sighting reports are very helpful, the number of sightings reported to us is often influenced by nice weather and the number of people at the beach," said Matt Davis, marine resource scientist at the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

"We've had great weather this year for beach tourism, and we also have a number of people with drones actively looking for sharks, so sightings are high." Daryen Granata, harbor master and marine resource officer for the town of Scarborough, said the police department began receiving numerous shark sighting reports in early July.

Several were captured on video.

MULTIPLE VIDEOS REVEAL SHARKS SWIMMING NEAR SHORE AS SIGHTINGS RISE IN MAINE BEACH TOWN "They were off of Pine Point Beach for a substantial amount of time," said Granata.

"They've kind of migrated now.

They're more off the Scarborough Beach State Park and Higgins Beach area at this point.

We're still seeing them on a daily basis.

Still to this day, and it's been, you know, three weeks at this point." Granata, who has lived in Scarborough for more than 30 years, said shark sightings have become much more common in recent years, especially sightings of juvenile sharks.