The largest great white shark ever documented in the Atlantic has surfaced once more, now appearing in a popular tourist destination.
Enter Contender, a great white shark measuring an impressive 14 feet and weighing 1,653 pounds. Scientists believe this massive shark is approximately 30 years old.
In January, OCEARCH—a non-profit organization focused on researching large marine animals to manage marine ecosystems and support conservation—tagged Contender in the North Atlantic.
For nearly a month, Contender’s whereabouts were unknown, leaving his location a mystery during that time.
However, on June 7, Contender re-emerged, having traveled extensively in recent months.
Back in January, scientists detected Contender near the Florida-Georgia coastline, approximately 45 miles from Jacksonville.
Additional pings showed his presence near the John F. Kennedy Space Centre, though his activities there remain unknown.
Since then, Contender has changed course, heading north to North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound.
The reason for his shift is believed to be related to the search for new food sources, which is a primary motive for sharks migrating across the ocean.
Dr. Harley Newton, OCEARCH’s chief scientist and veterinarian in Florida, explained: “This time of year white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration (16 May to 30 June) moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada.”
“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.”
The research team collects biological samples and attaches a SPOT satellite tag to Contender’s dorsal fin, which transmits real-time GPS data whenever he surfaces.
This process allows researchers and the public to monitor the shark’s movements live via OCEARCH’s global shark tracker, offering insights into the creative paths sharks take.
While Contender is notably large, he isn’t the biggest shark in the ocean, especially when compared to female sharks.
Indeed, female white sharks tend to be larger, typically growing 15-16 feet, whereas males generally reach 11-13 feet upon maturity, according to Ocean.
One of the most famous female sharks is Deep Blue, estimated to be 20 feet long and weighing around 2,000 kilograms.