Latest news with #Ocearch
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Largest great white shark ever captured in Florida leaves scientists stunned. It measures 13.8 feet and weighs 1,653 pounds
What is the great white shark? Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Ocearch research team, known for their groundbreaking studies on oceanic predators, made an unexpected discovery off the coast of Florida and Georgia in January this year. They captured a massive great white shark that is rewriting the record books. This extraordinary shark, known as Contender, is far larger than anything scientists have seen before, challenging previous assumptions about the the largest male white shark tagged by Ocearch in the Atlantic, was recently spotted off the coast of Massachusetts. The shark measures 13.8 feet and weighs approximately 1,653 pounds and it emerged near Nantucket on 18 July, days before Shark Week begins, i.e. July 20. The powerful animal was initially tagged on 17 January off the coasts of Florida and Georgia to aid researchers and estimate Contender to be about 32 years old. While great whites typically live between 30 and 40 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that some can reach 70. Since being tagged in January near the Florida-Georgia line, he has pinged more than 40 times. After heading south to Vero Beach, Florida, by February, he then began a 1,000-mile trek Harley Newton, the senior veterinarian for Ocearch, remarked on the remarkable nature of this discovery. He noted that great white males usually reach sexual maturity around the age of 26, typically measuring 3.5 meters. Finding a shark of Contender's size and maturity is a truly rare event in the world of marine had previously travelled to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, a typical migration for great whites. To track his movements, the research team attached a Spot tag to Contender's dorsal fin. This device will allow scientists to monitor the shark's path across the ocean, collecting data on his migration patterns, feeding habits, and seasonal behaviors. Since being tagged, Contender has traveled over 470 kilometers, with the most recent signal coming from Merritt Island, white sharks are crucial to the health of marine ecosystems, serving as apex predators that help control the populations of other species and maintain balance within ocean food chains. Their presence supports biodiversity and ecosystem stability. However, growing threats from human activities are endangering their survival. Gaining deeper insight into their behavior and migration patterns is essential for creating successful conservation June, Contender was detected again, this time near Cape Hatteras, off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. According to OCEARCH, great white sharks like Contender migrate northward in spring and early summer in search of cooler, prey-rich waters.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Gigantic Great White makes timely Shark Week appearance
Contender, the largest male great white shark ever tagged by Ocearch in the Atlantic, was recently spotted off the coast of Massachusetts. Measuring 13.8 feet and weighing approximately 1,653 pounds, the shark emerged near Nantucket on 18 July, days before Shark Week begins (July 20). The powerful animal was initially tagged on 17 January off the coasts of Florida and Georgia to aid researchers and conservationists. Its tag pinged around 100 miles south of Boston and 30 miles from Cape Cod, a popular tourist destination. Contender, estimated to be around 32 years old, had previously travelled to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, a typical migration for great whites.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Contender, largest great white shark tagged in Atlantic, spotted off Nantucket
The largest great white shark ever tagged by an ocean research group in the Atlantic has been spotted just off the coast of Massachusetts. Contender, a mature male shark measuring 13.8 feet and weighing around 1,653 pounds, emerged near Nantucket on July 18. The shark's tag pinged around 100 miles south of Boston and 30 miles from Cape Cod – a popular tourist destination. The powerful animal was tagged on January 17, around 45 miles off the coast of Florida and Georgia, in order to help researchers and conservationists. Contender then headed up to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, which researchers say is typical of great whites. It is believed the stop may be due to rich food resources in the region and gives the animal time to prepare for a journey north that could be more than 1000 miles. According to Ocearch, Contender's name is in honor of Contender Boats, a longtime partner of the research group, whose industry-leading sport fishing and pleasure boats enable its research missions. Contender is the largest male white shark ever caught, SPOT tagged, released and now studied in the North West Atlantic white shark population. The tag, which pings when the shark's dorsal fin breaches the surface, will last for five years. However, the reports that some creatures can reach the age of 70.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Massive 13-foot great white shark pings off New England coast
The largest Atlantic great white shark tagged by a marine research company continues to make his way north. Named after a popular boat brand, scientists reported "Contender," a great white shark, pinged dozens of miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The island, a popular travel destination, is about 100 miles from Boston. At nearly 14 feet in length, the adult male shark surfaced on July 17, according to Ocearch, a global non-profit marine research group tracking shark sightings and migration. 'I didn't see it': Surfer bitten by shark in second attack at Florida beach this month A ping means the tag attached to the fish's dorsal fin was spotted above the surface for a brief period as it swam, transmitting a near-live location signal to the Ocearch shark tracker. How much does the great white weigh? According to Ocearch's shark tracker page, Contender weighs 1,653 pounds and measures 13 feet, 9 inches in length. The shark is believed to be just over 30 years old. Great white sharks' life span are typically between 30 and 40 years old, but according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration some can live past age 70. 'Dancing With Sharks': Tom Bergeron heads back to a watery ballroom Where has the great white pinged? Contender's location has pinged more than 40 times after researchers tagged the beast in January off the Florida-Georgia border. After that, a Feb. 23 ping showed he'd swam as far south as just off the coast of Vero Beach in Florida, before making his trek more than one thousand miles north. And last month, the big fish resurfaced off the coast of North Carolina, just off the Outer Banks near Cape Hatteras. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Great white shark, 'Contender,' pings off Nantucket, Ocearch says Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
4 days ago
- Science
- USA Today
Massive 13-foot great white shark pings off New England coast
The largest Atlantic great white shark tagged by a marine research company continues to make his way north. Named after a popular boat brand, scientists reported "Contender," a great white shark, pinged dozens of miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The island, a popular travel destination, is about 100 miles from Boston. At nearly 14 feet in length, the adult male shark surfaced on July 17, according to Ocearch, a global non-profit marine research group tracking shark sightings and migration. 'I didn't see it': Surfer bitten by shark in second attack at Florida beach this month A ping means the tag attached to the fish's dorsal fin was spotted above the surface for a brief period as it swam, transmitting a near-live location signal to the Ocearch shark tracker. How much does the great white weigh? According to Ocearch's shark tracker page, Contender weighs 1,653 pounds and measures 13 feet, 9 inches in length. The shark is believed to be just over 30 years old. Great white sharks' life span are typically between 30 and 40 years old, but according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration some can live past age 70. 'Dancing With Sharks': Tom Bergeron heads back to a watery ballroom Where has the great white pinged? Contender's location has pinged more than 40 times after researchers tagged the beast in January off the Florida-Georgia border. After that, a Feb. 23 ping showed he'd swam as far south as just off the coast of Vero Beach in Florida, before making his trek more than one thousand miles north. And last month, the big fish resurfaced off the coast of North Carolina, just off the Outer Banks near Cape Hatteras. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
