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6d ago

Largest Ever Tagged Atlantic Great White Spotted Off Nantucket

The July 18 ping east of Massachusetts marks the start of OCEARCH’s five-year effort to gather real-time data on adult great white migrations.

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Researchers have nicknamed the more than 13 and a half foot ocean beast “Contender” because he’s “the ultimate ocean warrior.”
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Overview

  • Contender measures about 13.8 feet in length and weighs approximately 1,653 pounds, making it the largest great white ever tagged in the Atlantic.
  • Since its tagging on January 17 off the Florida-Georgia coast, Contender has pinged over 40 times, including off Vero Beach in February and Cape Hatteras in June, culminating in its Nantucket sighting on July 18.
  • Researchers estimate the shark is around 32 years old, offering a rare window into the life cycle of mature Atlantic great whites.
  • The SPOT tag transmits a location “ping” whenever Contender’s dorsal fin breaches the surface and an Argos satellite is overhead.
  • OCEARCH will monitor Contender for five years through the free Global Shark Tracker app to enhance understanding of migratory behavior and inform beach safety.