Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Record-Size Great White 'Contender' Spotted Off Nantucket Coast

Researchers are monitoring the shark’s path in real time to study apex predator behavior as rising sea temperatures shift traditional shark habitats.

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

Overview

  • On July 17 OCEARCH’s SPOT tag detected Contender off Nantucket, confirming its spring migration into New England waters.
  • Contender measures nearly 14 feet long and weighs 1,653 pounds, making it the largest great white ever tagged in the Atlantic.
  • The adult male was tagged in January near the Florida–Georgia line and has transmitted more than 40 location pings via satellite.
  • Scientists estimate Contender to be about 32 years old, providing rare insights into great white shark longevity and life history.
  • Warming waters around Nantucket have drawn more great whites to the area, intensifying efforts to track shark movements and inform beach safety.