The largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean has just been spotted off the coast of North Carolina.
At nearly 14 feet long and weighing over 1,600 pounds, Contender is the largest great white shark ever tagged by OCEARCH, a nonprofit that monitors large marine animals.
Scientists first tagged Contender in January about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast near Jacksonville. Since then, he has steadily moved north, most recently surfacing just 22 miles off NC’s Cape Hatteras. The shark’s satellite tag sends a signal whenever his dorsal fin breaks the ocean’s surface, allowing researchers to monitor his real-time movements.
OCEARCH says Contender is about 32 years old. The tracking tag, known as a SPOT tag, will continue to transmit data for roughly five years. Researchers also collected biological samples during the tagging process, including urogenital material, to support ongoing studies on shark reproduction and health.
This spring migration is typical for great white sharks, which travel north in search of cooler waters and an abundance of prey. OCEARCH named the shark in partnership with Contender Boats, whose vessels support the organization’s research expeditions.
Anyone interested in tracking Contender’s movements can follow him on OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker app here.
