SCARBOROUGH, Maine — After some recent shark sightings along the Maine coast, fears are circulating. Many want to know if this is one shark, or if there are multiple, and also if the sightings are increasing.
Daryen Granata said his phone hadn't stopped ringing all morning.
"We've had some reports, we've had some videos sent to us from a few people," Granata said.
As the harbor master and marine resource officer for the town of Scarborough, people are looking to him for information about the sightings.
"There's been a few sightings of what we think is the same animal," he said.
Based on information the Maine Department of Marine Resources has given Granata, he believes it was the same shark. It was confirmed the shark is between seven and eight feet long and is a great white shark that has primarily been swimming around the same area.
"They see it now because more people are getting out on the water," Granata said.
The shark was seen once in Biddeford about a week ago but was spotted more frequently near Pine Point and the Richmond Island harbor area. Despite concerns, Granata doesn't think this is anything out of the ordinary.
"I think we're seeing more because there's more people paddling with cell phones and social media getting it out there," Granata said.
According to Granata, the shark is in its natural habitat, away from shallow waters, and there's no reason to believe it should be dangerous.
"We're just trying to make sure everybody has situational awareness that it is out there," Granata added.
However, for some people, being more aware doesn't make them less afraid.
"That doesn't make me feel good no matter what," Laura Dailey said while at Scarborough Beach on Tuesday.
Dailey said just knowing it's in her area makes her want to steer clear of the water.
"A paddle boarder saw the shark. We were going to be on the paddle boards and we saw a lot of people paddle boarding yesterday, so you just never know I guess," Dailey said.
Dailey added she tucked her paddle boards away, just in case. However, not everyone feels a similar urge.
"It's not something I really take into consideration," Jesse Papenburg, another beachgoer, said.
Papenburg said he always remembers how uncommon shark attacks are. The odds of being killed by a shark are one in around 4.3 million, according to the International Shark Attack File.
"I think awareness is important, but I don't feel that unprovoked shark attacks are a significant danger," Pappenburg said.
If by chance you do come across the shark, Granata said there are ways to avoid putting yourself in danger.
"We recommend [people] continue upon their way on the boat, leave the animal alone, and let it do its thing, it's in its natural habitat," Granata said.