Record-Breaking Great White Shark Tracked Along U.S. East Coast
OCEARCH researchers have tagged and are tracking Contender, the largest male great white shark recorded in the Northwest Atlantic, as he migrates along the U.S. East Coast.
In January 2025, researchers from the non-profit organization OCEARCH tagged a 13.8-foot-long (4.6 meters), 1,653-pound (750 kilograms) adult male great white shark named Contender off the coast of Florida and Georgia. This makes Contender the largest male white shark ever caught, tagged, and released in the Northwest Atlantic white shark population.
Since his tagging, Contender has been tracked along the U.S. East Coast. After spending time near Florida's east coast until mid-March, he moved to North Carolina from early April to early June, including the popular area of Pamlico Sound. He then traveled north, with his tag pinging near Cape Cod on July 17 and approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Nantucket on July 18.
OCEARCH's tracking efforts aim to provide valuable data on the migratory patterns, reproductive behaviors, and survival strategies of great white sharks. The organization has conducted nearly 50 expeditions and tagged close to 500 sharks, collaborating with more than 90 research institutions worldwide.
Contender's movements can be monitored in near real-time through OCEARCH's Global Shark Tracker, offering insights into the behavior of these apex predators and contributing to their conservation.