The largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean has resurfaced near a popular tourist destination off the coast of North Carolina. The shark, named Contender, measures almost 14 feet in length and weighs over 1,650 pounds. It was first tagged in January about 45 miles from the Florida-Georgia coast but disappeared in May for several weeks before reappearing on June 7 near the Pamlico Sound, a major attraction on the Outer Banks.
The Pamlico Sound is the largest saltwater lagoon on the East Coast, drawing thousands of tourists for water sports and beaches. OCEARCH, the nonprofit that tagged and tracks Contender, uses SPOT tags that transmit when the shark's dorsal fin breaks the surface. The tag is expected to track his movements for around five years to help researchers understand migration patterns.
OCEARCH's chief scientist Harley Newton said that this time of year, white sharks begin their late spring to early summer migration from southern overwintering areas to foraging grounds in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada. She noted that sharks often spend time off the Outer Banks before moving north, likely due to rich food resources, preparing for journeys of 1,000 miles or more.
Contender, believed to be nearly 30 years old, was named after Contender Boats, a company that partnered with OCEARCH by providing a vessel for missions. Over 142 days, the shark travelled a total of 1,870 miles. The average size for a male great white is around 12 to 13 feet, making Contender notably large.
