A massive great white shark, hailed as the largest male ever tagged, has been spotted off the coast of a popular holiday destination with Brits.
Nicknamed “Contender,” the 14-foot-long predator, weighing an estimated 1,600 pounds, was tagged by the research group OCEARCH while swimming below the surface of the southwest Atlantic. The shark is now being tracked as it moves south along the Gulf Stream.
Biologists tagged Contender at 10:52pm on January 17, approximately 45 miles from the Florida-Georgia border. According to tracking data, the shark initially travelled north for four days before doubling back and heading south, reports the Mirror.
Since tagging began, Contender has covered about 168 miles, remaining at least 40 miles offshore along the eastern edge of the Florida platform, a flat geological feature that forms the Florida peninsula.
Beachgoers in Florida can rest easy for now, as Contender is far enough from the coast to pose no immediate threat.
The shark was fitted with a SPOT tag, or “smart position and temperature tag,” which sends a signal—or “ping”—each time its dorsal fin breaches the water’s surface. For precise tracking, the fin must stay above water for about 90 seconds. The most recent ping, recorded on February 6, placed Contender near St. Augustine, Florida, with the shark continuing to head south.
OCEARCH described Contender as a “mature male” and “the ultimate ocean warrior” on its website. The shark’s name honours Contender Boats, a long-time partner of the research organisation.
Great white sharks typically migrate north during the spring and summer, drawn by the abundance of seals along the northeast coasts of the U.S. and Canada. For now, however, Contender continues his journey in warmer southern waters, providing valuable data for scientists studying the movements and habits of these ocean predators.
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