The largest great white shark ever documented in the Atlantic by researchers is en route to a beloved U.S. holiday destination.
Nicknamed “Contender,” the 14-foot giant was tagged near the Florida-Georgia border, 45 miles from Jacksonville, by non-profit OCEARCH in January.
After vanishing for almost a month, Contender reappeared off North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound coast on June 7 after researchers got a ping on his location. The enormous shark seems to have bolted northward recently.
Weighing approximately 1,653 lbs. and thought to be 30 years old, researchers believe Contender is pausing for a vital feeding session to stock up energy for a potential trek upwards of 1,000 miles.
OCEARCH’s lead scientist and vet, Dr. Harley Newton shed light on the colossal beings’ habits.
“This time of year, white sharks are starting their late spring-early summer migration, May 16 to June 30, moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer-fall foraging areas in the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada,” she said.
Tagging Contender meant he had to be carefully captured next to the research vessel, sampled biologically and fitted with a SPOT satellite tag on his dorsal fin.
The tag beams back real-time GPS data each time he surfaces, allowing both scientists and shark enthusiasts to follow his live location on OCEARCH’s global shark tracker.
“We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing. This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what may be a journey of 1,000 miles or more,” Dr. Newton said.
Great whites are crucial for ocean health as they help keep prey numbers in check, but they are up against challenges like overfishing, habitat loss and climate shifts.
Valuable data from Contender and his finned peers is key to safeguarding their survival and ensuring the preservation of essential marine habitats.
THE MIRROR