A massive 1,653-pound great white shark, measuring 13.8 feet in length, has been tracked off the Jersey Shore, marking one of the largest known males in the western North Atlantic Ocean. According to researchers at Ocearch, a Florida-based nonprofit organization, this sighting provides valuable insights into the species' migration patterns.
Contender, as he is nicknamed, was initially tagged off the coast of Florida and Georgia in January 2022 and has been tracked since then, making numerous appearances near different locations in North America, including the Outer Banks, Massachusetts, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. His most recent sighting was on Tuesday when he was spotted traveling south off the coast of Cape Breton Island.
The shark's age is estimated to be around 32 years old, with males generally living longer than females but not growing as large as they do. The data from Contender's tracking device provides a unique perspective into the life of a mature male great white shark, offering information on how he moves, feeds, and contributes to the population's recovery.
Ocearch has tagged over 400 sharks worldwide with transmitter tags that log their geographic coordinates by sending signals when the sharks' dorsal fins break the surface. The nonprofit says this data helps identify trends in migration patterns, feeding habits, and breeding grounds.
The organization also recently received a ping from Earnst, a 12-foot-long female great white measuring around 1,000 pounds, which was tagged over 2,000 miles north of her current location near the Florida Keys. This finding highlights the importance of tracking great whites in Canadian waters, as they migrate there during the summer and fall to feed.
According to Ocearch's data, great white sharks do not appear to be endangered in the Atlantic Ocean, but their distribution varies by region and season. The organization has observed a rise in great white shark numbers in the Northwest Atlantic since the 1990s, particularly in Canadian waters, which are crucial for their summer feeding habits.
Contender's journey serves as an example of how collaboration between science, innovation, and the public can fill gaps in knowledge about great white sharks. Ocearch expects the tag on Contender to provide valuable data on his movements for approximately five years, and the nonprofit maintains a website where the public can follow his whereabouts and learn about other animals being studied.
The discovery of this massive shark highlights the continued presence of great whites off the New Jersey coast over the past decade. Other notable sightings include Mary Lee, a 16-foot-long female tagged in 2012, who earned the title "Matriarch of the Sea" for her impressive size, and Ironbound, a mature male measuring more than 12 feet long and around 1,000 pounds.
Ocearch founder Chris Fischer says Contender's journey represents the power of collaboration between science, innovation, and the public in advancing our understanding of great white sharks.
Contender, as he is nicknamed, was initially tagged off the coast of Florida and Georgia in January 2022 and has been tracked since then, making numerous appearances near different locations in North America, including the Outer Banks, Massachusetts, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. His most recent sighting was on Tuesday when he was spotted traveling south off the coast of Cape Breton Island.
The shark's age is estimated to be around 32 years old, with males generally living longer than females but not growing as large as they do. The data from Contender's tracking device provides a unique perspective into the life of a mature male great white shark, offering information on how he moves, feeds, and contributes to the population's recovery.
Ocearch has tagged over 400 sharks worldwide with transmitter tags that log their geographic coordinates by sending signals when the sharks' dorsal fins break the surface. The nonprofit says this data helps identify trends in migration patterns, feeding habits, and breeding grounds.
The organization also recently received a ping from Earnst, a 12-foot-long female great white measuring around 1,000 pounds, which was tagged over 2,000 miles north of her current location near the Florida Keys. This finding highlights the importance of tracking great whites in Canadian waters, as they migrate there during the summer and fall to feed.
According to Ocearch's data, great white sharks do not appear to be endangered in the Atlantic Ocean, but their distribution varies by region and season. The organization has observed a rise in great white shark numbers in the Northwest Atlantic since the 1990s, particularly in Canadian waters, which are crucial for their summer feeding habits.
Contender's journey serves as an example of how collaboration between science, innovation, and the public can fill gaps in knowledge about great white sharks. Ocearch expects the tag on Contender to provide valuable data on his movements for approximately five years, and the nonprofit maintains a website where the public can follow his whereabouts and learn about other animals being studied.
The discovery of this massive shark highlights the continued presence of great whites off the New Jersey coast over the past decade. Other notable sightings include Mary Lee, a 16-foot-long female tagged in 2012, who earned the title "Matriarch of the Sea" for her impressive size, and Ironbound, a mature male measuring more than 12 feet long and around 1,000 pounds.
Ocearch founder Chris Fischer says Contender's journey represents the power of collaboration between science, innovation, and the public in advancing our understanding of great white sharks.
Just saw this massive 13.8ft shark tracked off Jersey Shore! 
Did you know, this dude's estimated to be around 32 years old? 
That's like, really old for a shark! 
Anyway, Ocearch says Contender has been tracked since Jan '22 and has made some sick appearances near the Outer Banks & Nova Scotia 
. It's also cool that he's giving us insights into migration patterns & feeding habits 
. The data from his transmitter tag is gonna be lit for about 5 yrs! 
By the way, have you seen this pic of Mary Lee, a 16ft female tagged in 2012? 
She's like, the OG great white queen 
. I mean, 32 years old and 1,653 pounds is insane! Guess that's what happens when you're a top male in the western North Atlantic Ocean 
. And it's cool that Ocearch has tagged over 400 sharks worldwide - that's a lot of data! 
. Maybe this helps shed some light on why great whites are doing better in Canadian waters lately? Not sure, but I think it's awesome we can learn from these incredible creatures 
They're like nomads, migrating to different locations searching for food and breeding grounds 
Contender's been traveling since 2022 and we still have so much to learn from him 
I mean, who wouldn't want to track a 32-year-old great white shark for 5 years? 
Can you imagine what other secrets they're hiding beneath the surface? 
! 13.8 feet long and 1,653 pounds is insane! It's crazy to think Contender was tagged all the way back in January 2022 near Florida and Georgia, and now he's been tracked all over North America 
. I mean, who would've thought a shark could just cruise around that much? And at 32 years old, dude is like old-school 
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! Contender's journey is like proof that science, innovation, and the public can all come together to make a difference 
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. And it just goes to show that collab is key when it comes to advancing our knowledge 
. Can't wait to follow Contender's journey on the Ocearch website 
! 
. I guess we're doing something right to have them thriving 
. I'm definitely going to check out their website to follow Contender's journey 
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no wonder they're not considered endangered yet 
btw who needs a beach body when you can have a massive 1,653-pound body 
What's the real takeaway here? Are we just going to keep tagging these sharks and call it a day? 
️.
. Ocearch is killing it with these tags and we should totally be following Contender's journey 
what's with the tracking thingy? seems kinda invasive but i guess it's good for science and all that 
! Contender as they call him is 32 years old which is like, ancient for a shark right? 
It's crazy to think he's still swimming around out there. And the fact that Ocearch has tracked over 400 sharks worldwide with transmitter tags is insane 
I mean, can you believe that massive dude has been swimming around for like 32 years? That's wild! 
Anyway, gotta say, this Contender shark is giving me some serious Shark Week vibes 
Like seriously, who needs beaches when you have sharks as big as houses? 
Like, hello, Contender, we're not exactly BFFs here.