Are great white sharks federally protected? | Fact brief

Federal Protections and Maine Laws Regulate Great White Shark Presence

Great white sharks, protected under federal law since 1997, cannot be legally possessed in U.S. waters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries classifies them as a prohibited species due to vulnerability to overfishing, requiring immediate release if caught. While not currently listed as endangered, these sharks are subject to strict catch-and-release regulations when caught recreationally with rod and reel under specific conditions.

In Maine, state law further prohibits the "take" of white sharks in state waters, including attempts to remove them from their habitat. These protections have gained renewed attention following a series of shark sightings along the state’s southern coast this summer.

In August, a white shark pulled a Scarborough lifeguard underwater by his rescue device, though the lifeguard was unharmed. Later that month, on Labor Day, anglers at Scarborough’s Higgins Beach successfully hooked and released a large white shark, an event captured on video and widely shared online.

Maine’s only confirmed fatal shark attack occurred in 2020 off Harpswell’s Bailey Island. Since then, state officials have urged caution for swimmers and paddlers, particularly in the Casco Bay region where shark activity has increased.

Despite public concern, experts emphasize that shark encounters remain rare, and current laws are designed to protect both humans and the sharks themselves.