Latest news with #DrHarleyNewton
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- Science
- News.com.au
‘Beast': World's biggest great white swims towards hotspot
The biggest great white shark ever recorded by researchers in the Atlantic is on the move – towards a popular US vacation hotspot. Contender, the 4.3-metre beast, was tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH in January – a non-profit organization that conducts research on large marine animals – 72km off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville. And after going off the radar for nearly a month – the tracker only transmits locating signal when the shark's dorsal fin is briefly exposed above the water's surface – last week it surfaced north, off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. The beast appears to have made a dart for the north over the last few weeks. Measuring around 750kg, Contender is estimated to be around 30 years old. This stopover is believed to be a critical feeding period, allowing him to build energy reserves, for what may be a journey of 1,609km or more. Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian, from Ponte Vedra, Florida, explained the behaviour of the mammoth creatures. She said: '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 US and Atlantic Canada.' The tagging involved carefully capturing Contender alongside the research vessel, collecting biological samples, and attaching a SPOT satellite tag to his dorsal fin. This tag transmits real-time GPS data whenever he surfaces, enabling researchers and the public to track his movements live via OCEARCH's global shark tracker. Dr Newton said: '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.' Contender's migration is closely monitored to advance scientific research and promote shark conservation. Great white sharks play a vital role in marine ecosystems by regulating prey populations but face threats from overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. Data from Contender and other tagged sharks inform conservation efforts and help protect critical habitats.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
‘World's biggest great white shark' dubbed ‘The Contender' is spotted by trackers heading towards popular tourist beach
THE biggest white shark ever tagged by scientists has been spotted heading towards a popular tourist beach. Named 'The Contender', the vast beast hasn't been heard from for several weeks. 4 4 4 The massive shark has been skulking around the North Carolina coast for the past few months. Scientists keep tabs on its location through a tracker that "pings" whenever the shark's fin breaks the water's surface. But after several weeks off grid, the behemoth has surfaced again - this time near the popular North Carolina tourist area of Pamlico Sound. The latest ping sounded on June 7, just before 10pm. The scientists' tracking map appears to show The Contender making a move north since it last appeared. Weighing a whopping 1,600 pounds, the shark was first tagged on January 17 this year. The Contender started its journey about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It is the largest ever shark tagged the research group OCEARCH. The adult white shark measures a staggering 13 feet and nine inches. Dr Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian, said: "This time of year white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada." The Contender's previous ping came on May 21, when it was much further south along North Carolina's coast. However, beachgoers need not panic, as the shark is still swimming a fair distance from the coastline. Dr Newton added: "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." OCEARCH's website calls Contender "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It adds that his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. The website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analysed."
