Latest news with #sharkmigration
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Largest Great White Shark Ever Recorded Spotted Swimming Near Popular New England Beach Destination
A record-breaking great white shark was spotted swimming off the coast of Nantucket, Mass., on July 18. The shark, named Contender, was tagged by the marine research nonprofit OCEARCH. Contender measures an impressive 13 feet, 9 inches long and weighs a whopping 1,653 pounds. Researchers referred to the shark as 'the ultimate ocean warrior," per MassLive. Contender's latest satellite ping placed the massive shark in waters east of Massachusetts, specifically between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank, per the outlet. OCEARCH originally tagged the male shark in January off the coast of Georgia, approximately 45 miles offshore. Contender then made the journey to Florida, before turning back up north. Before the ping off the coast of Massachusetts, there was a ping off the coast of North Carolina's Cape Hatteras, OCEARCH shared on Instagram on June 10. "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," the research group said in a statement. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analyzed." The group also revealed how they chose the shark's name. Contender is named after Contender Boats, "a longtime OCEARCH partner, whose industry-leading sport fishing and pleasure boats enable our research missions." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Another great white shark was spotted in Cape Cod on July 4 by two paddleboarders, roughly 100 yards offshore from Stony Beach. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy determined that there were an estimated 800 great white sharks in the waters around Massachusetts from 2015 to 2018, per WBZ News. OCEARCH has shared an interactive travel log of Contender's migration journey on their official website. Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Largest ever great white shark swims towards popular US beach resort
The largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean has ominously surfaced miles from a popular tourist spot near North Carolina. After a brief disappearance, the shark known as Contender was tracked near the Pamlico Sound, a well-visited spot for summer beach goers. Contender, an almost 14-foot shark, was first tagged in January around 45 miles from the Florida-Georgia coast before he disappeared in May for several weeks. OCEARCH, that tagged and tracked Contender, is a nonprofit organization that collects data on large marine animals across the US and Canada. Contender's signal remained dormant until June 7, at which point he resurfaced near the Pamlico Sound - one of the biggest attractions on the Outer Banks. The Pamlico is the largest sound, or saltwater lagoon, on the East Coast and attracts thousands of tourists with its renowned reputation for water sports and quiet sandy beaches. Contender's SPOT tag, or satellite transmitting tags designed to track marine life, will track his movements for around five years to help researchers further understand migration patterns. A shark's tag pings a transmission once their dorsal fin breaks the waters surface. Researchers believe his time missing in action was during a critical feeding period in which he stocked up on energy supplies for his journey north, The Sacramento Bee reported. '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,' OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian Harley Newton told the outlet. '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,' Newton added. 'This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what nay be a journey of 1,000 miles or more.' The shark, believed to be almost 30 years old and weighing in at over 1650 pounds, was tracked to have come closest to the shoreline near Mosquito Lagoon in Florida. OCEARCH said that they chose the record-breaking shark's name after Contender Boats, a boat manufacturing company that builds semi-custom sportfishing boats. The company has partnered with OCEARCH by providing the vessel for their extensive missions. Upon Contenders original tagging in January, shocking photos showed the massive shark lined up alongside the boats. The average size for a male great white shark is around 12 to 13 feet and a female averages at 15 to 16 feet long. Shark enthusiasts were floored to see Contender's massive size, with many expressing their shock in the comments of a video shared by the research team on Instagram. 'So cool!! I need to look him up and see where he goes,' one comment read. 'Contender is the Man, I mean, Great White! What a beaut. Hope he avoids props, orcas and any other danger that can put this unique specimen down. Looking forward to following his travels. Ocearch, you people rock!!!' another comment added. 'He is so handsome! What a beautiful fishy!!! Thanks for studying them and protect them!! Sharks are awesome,' a third shared. Over 142 days, the huge great white traveled a total of 1,870 miles.
