Biggest Great White Shark Ever Tracked in Atlantic Zigzags Off US Coast

The largest great white shark tagged by researchers in the Atlantic has surfaced near North Carolina on a swim to northern waters.

Contender the shark was first SPOT tagged off the coast of Florida on January 17 and has been located again by oceanographers who have measured Contender at 1,653 lbs and 13 feet and 9 inches long, making him the largest great white tagged by OCEARCH researchers.

Great whites tend to migrate to cooler waters during the summer months after spending the winter in warmer conditions, which explains his swims from Florida to North Carolina, totaling about 1,870 miles since January.

The OCEARCH research team has been contacted for comment via email.

Contender the shark — Contender the 1,653lb shark being tagged by OCEARCH researchers.

OCEARCH

Why It Matters

Shark tourism has become a part of the summer economy in the North Atlantic, particularly off the shores of Cape Cod. In a summer when fewer Canadian tourists may be visiting the Northeast, the chance to see Contender in the wild may assist with tourism numbers in beach towns.

Researchers say that following Contender’s movements will assist with oceanic and conservation research.

What To Know

Contender is named after Contender Boats, a partner of OCEARCH research. Although some may see him as the ultimate ocean horror, OCEARCH researchers prefer to describe him as “the ultimate ocean warrior.”

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Jaws hitting movie theaters. This film had a significant impact on sharks and shark perceptions across the United States. It resulted in people fleeing beaches and humans seeking out sharks in their natural habitat to kill them.

Fifty years later, oceanographers are working to correct the record on sharks and educate people on why sharks are a critical part of the ocean’s ecosystem and need to be protected.

Peter Benchley, the author of the novel Jaws, which the film is based on, went on to spend the rest of his life working in shark conservation, as he felt guilty over how the shark population suffered due to his work.

Prior to his death, Benchley wrote: “I couldn’t write Jaws today. The extensive new knowledge of sharks would make it impossible for me to create, in good conscience, a villain of the magnitude and malignity of the original.”

Speaking about how Jaws has impacted their research, Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH said in a press release: “Our research in the very waters where JAWS was set—from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia and down to the Gulf of Mexico—is uncovering the real-life migratory patterns and critical habitats of white sharks.

“This knowledge is demonstrating just how essential these predators are to maintaining the health and balance of our oceans.”

What People Are Saying

Dr. Harley Newton, chief scientist and veterinarian at OCEARCH, said in a press release: “Through the multidisciplinary research we facilitate, we are developing a more complete understanding of the Western North Atlantic white shark, including their essential habitats and threats to population recovery. This data contributes to global white shark conservation efforts and will help shape fisheries management policies that we hope will ensure a healthy future for sharks and the oceans they protect.”