Tagged Atlantic great white shark "Contender" may head toward Cape Cod waters
The largest male great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic, nicknamed Contender, has been detected moving northward and could reach the Cape Cod area this summer, according to OCEARCH.
The Atlantic's biggest male great white shark, identified as Contender, was detected moving toward Cape Cod after a recent Z-ping on July 10. The 1,600-pound, 14-foot predator was first tagged in January 2025 off the Florida-Georgia coast and has since traveled more than 7,000 miles across the North Atlantic.
OCEARCH explained that white sharks in the western North Atlantic typically migrate north in the spring and spend the summer and early fall foraging in the waters off Cape Cod and Atlantic Canada, where water temperatures are moderate and prey such as seals and large fish are abundant.
While great whites rarely target people, they can mistake swimmers for seals when seen from below. Authorities advise beachgoers to swim in groups, avoid dusk or night hours, stay close to shore and follow posted signs and lifeguard instructions.