A massive great white shark, potentially the largest ever recorded, is causing concern as it heads towards a popular vacation destination.
Named Contender, this 14-foot shark was tagged by the non-profit organization, OCEARCH, in the North Atlantic in January.
OCEARCH is dedicated to studying large marine animals to help scientists access previously unavailable data.
Initially, Contender was spotted just 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, but it has now appeared near Nantucket, Massachusetts.
In June, Dr. Harley Newton, the chief scientist and veterinarian at OCEARCH, stated, “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.”
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.”
The rich food resources in the area may provide an opportunity for feeding and preparation for a journey potentially exceeding 1,000 miles.
Contender’s movements are monitored through a tag to support shark conservation. This tagging process involved attaching a satellite tag to its fin, which sends real-time GPS data whenever the shark surfaces.
According to the Mirror, Contender is now making its way toward Martha’s Vineyard, having traveled over 2,000 miles since January.
John Tyminski, OCEARCH’s Data Scientist, shared with the publication, “Based solely on the locations from the pings he’s provided, we estimate that Contender has travelled at least 2,433 miles since his January 17 tagging.”
He added that the shark’s current position off Cape Cod might indicate a northward journey to Atlantic Canada for the summer, though predictions are uncertain due to the lack of prior tracking data.
During the summer, Cape Cod’s population swells from 220,000 residents to over 500,000, as tourists and second homeowners flock to the area.
The Mirror reports that officials in Cape Cod, Massachusetts are advising residents and visitors to report any shark sightings in the area.
On the OCEARCH website, people can track Contender’s journey and view its recent locations over the past few months.