Great white shark spotted off Maine coast

A great white shark has been spotted around the Maine coast for the last few days.

Scarborough Public Safety said the juvenile great white shark is approximately 8 feet long.

This is believed to be the same shark first spotted Thursday by a commercial fisherman off Richmond Island near Cape Elizabeth.

Then, Cape Elizabeth police said there was a similar sighting on Friday by two people on paddle boards at Crescent Beach State Park, and then another later at Scarborough’s Pine Point Beach.

On Sunday, a Scarborough marine resource officer received video of the shark off Ram Island near the Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth border, which looked to be 10 to 12 feet long.

If you do see that shark or any other, state officials have advice for staying “shark safe.”

Shark encounters are rare, but you shouldn’t let your guard down while in the water.

You should always swim close to shore, stay in groups, avoid swimming in areas close to seals or fish, limit splashing and avoid swimming at dawn or dusk when light is low and sharks are actively feeding.

State officials also are reminding people to always follow posted beach rules.