Harpswell to treat purple shark-warning flags as seasonal — staff will add signage and website guidance

The Harpswell Select Board backed a staff proposal to treat the town’s purple shark-warning flags as a seasonal public-safety signal: raise the flags at the first credible sighting and leave them up for the summer, with explanatory signage and coordinated web and social-media notices.

Parks and Recreation Director Katie Neil said flags are an effective attention-getter and recommended keeping them up for the season to limit repeated up-and-down management and to make clear that it is "shark season in Harpswell." "I think it relays the important information and it limits the burden on town staff to work around what may or may not be valid scientific reasons," Neil said.

Harbor Master Darcy Coocher, who has a graduate background in marine biology and marine policy, told the board that sharks move widely and that posting at multiple town access points is more biologically sensible than putting a flag at one beach only. "Usually the news picks it up. It's a really great way to make folks aware," Coocher said. Staff recommended adding signage at flag sites explaining what the flag means and posting explanation and updates on the town website and social channels.

Board members discussed how often destinations beyond swim beaches—boat launches and popular access points—should carry signage and whether to coordinate messages with the Harpswell area land trust. Members generally agreed on seasonal posting, improved signs explaining the flag and expected behavior, and better online information.

Next steps: staff will draft new signage language, update the town website and social-media notices to explain that a purple flag indicates a credible sighting and that the flag will remain up for the season, and coordinate with the land trust on consistent messaging across properties.