Tagged Atlantic great white shark resumes northward migration, may reach Cape Cod
A 13-foot, 1,700-pound male great white shark tagged by OCEARCH has resurfaced after months of silence and is likely following its usual northward route toward Cape Cod this summer.
A male great white shark measuring more than 13 feet and weighing about 1,700 pounds, identified by researchers as Contender, has transmitted a new signal from its satellite tag after several months of inactivity. The shark, the largest male great white OCEARCH has tagged in the Atlantic, was originally tagged in January off Georgia and was last confirmed near Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, in April. A single transmission received on July 10 indicated the shark briefly broke the surface, but the signal was insufficient to pinpoint its exact location, as the tracking system requires three consecutive messages for accurate positioning.
Scientists say the timing and direction of the latest signal align with the typical seasonal migration of North Atlantic great whites, which move northward in summer and early fall to cooler waters with abundant prey. One frequent destination for these sharks is the Cape Cod peninsula in Massachusetts, a popular summer beach area.
"The shark’s presence does not represent an immediate threat to beachgoers," said experts, emphasizing that the animal remains deep underwater.
OCEARCH researchers note that monitoring sharks like Continent helps improve understanding of migration routes and oceanic behavior, even though much of the journey remains out of satellite range while the animal stays below the surface.