A 13.8-foot, 1,653-pound great white shark was recently spotted off the Atlantic City coast by researchers from Ocearch, a Florida-based nonprofit that tracks the movements of tagged sharks. This sighting has provided valuable insights into the species' migration patterns and habits.
The shark, named Contender, is estimated to be around 32 years old and is considered one of the largest male great whites in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Males generally live longer than females, but the females tend to grow bigger. Great white sharks like Contender have been tracked by Ocearch since January, when he was tagged off the coast of Florida and Georgia.
Contender's journey has taken him to various locations, including the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Quebec, Canada, before his recent sighting off the Jersey Shore. His movements offer a unique glimpse into the life of a mature male great white shark, providing valuable information for conservation efforts.
Ocearch founder Chris Fischer notes that each ping from Contender provides a window into the life of this iconic species, shedding light on how they move, feed, and interact with their environment. This data is crucial for understanding the population's recovery and informing management strategies to protect these magnificent creatures.
Interestingly, Ocearch has recently tracked another female great white, Earnst, measuring 12 feet long and weighing around 1,000 pounds, in the Florida Keys. These findings highlight the importance of continued research into the habits and migration patterns of great whites in the Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers from Ocearch have been studying great whites since 2012, leading annual expeditions to track and study these magnificent creatures. Their efforts have led to numerous discoveries, including the identification of a juvenile shark nursery off the coast of Long Island. These findings have informed conservation strategies, prioritizing areas where great whites are most vulnerable.
Contender's recent sighting is part of a growing trend of great white sharks appearing off the New Jersey coast over the past decade. Notable examples include Mary Lee, a 50-year-old female who measured 16 feet long and weighed 3,456 pounds when tagged in 2012, and Ironbound, a mature male measuring over 12 feet long and weighing around 1,000 pounds.
Ocearch's data suggests that great whites migrate to Canadian waters during the summer months to feed, and then return south for warmer waters and more abundant food sources. The organization's continued research efforts have shed light on the habits of these incredible creatures, providing valuable insights into their behavior, habitat, and population dynamics.
As Contender's tag provides data for approximately five years, Ocearch will continue to monitor his movements and learn more about this majestic species. The nonprofit maintains a website where the public can follow the journeys of tagged great whites like Contender, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of these ocean giants.
The shark, named Contender, is estimated to be around 32 years old and is considered one of the largest male great whites in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Males generally live longer than females, but the females tend to grow bigger. Great white sharks like Contender have been tracked by Ocearch since January, when he was tagged off the coast of Florida and Georgia.
Contender's journey has taken him to various locations, including the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Quebec, Canada, before his recent sighting off the Jersey Shore. His movements offer a unique glimpse into the life of a mature male great white shark, providing valuable information for conservation efforts.
Ocearch founder Chris Fischer notes that each ping from Contender provides a window into the life of this iconic species, shedding light on how they move, feed, and interact with their environment. This data is crucial for understanding the population's recovery and informing management strategies to protect these magnificent creatures.
Interestingly, Ocearch has recently tracked another female great white, Earnst, measuring 12 feet long and weighing around 1,000 pounds, in the Florida Keys. These findings highlight the importance of continued research into the habits and migration patterns of great whites in the Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers from Ocearch have been studying great whites since 2012, leading annual expeditions to track and study these magnificent creatures. Their efforts have led to numerous discoveries, including the identification of a juvenile shark nursery off the coast of Long Island. These findings have informed conservation strategies, prioritizing areas where great whites are most vulnerable.
Contender's recent sighting is part of a growing trend of great white sharks appearing off the New Jersey coast over the past decade. Notable examples include Mary Lee, a 50-year-old female who measured 16 feet long and weighed 3,456 pounds when tagged in 2012, and Ironbound, a mature male measuring over 12 feet long and weighing around 1,000 pounds.
Ocearch's data suggests that great whites migrate to Canadian waters during the summer months to feed, and then return south for warmer waters and more abundant food sources. The organization's continued research efforts have shed light on the habits of these incredible creatures, providing valuable insights into their behavior, habitat, and population dynamics.
As Contender's tag provides data for approximately five years, Ocearch will continue to monitor his movements and learn more about this majestic species. The nonprofit maintains a website where the public can follow the journeys of tagged great whites like Contender, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of these ocean giants.
!!! it's crazy cuz males r supposed 2 live longer than females but these ones r def def not true 4 dat 
. he's been tracked b4 by ocearch & they're like "hey check out his migration patterns & stuff" 
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... that's wild! & now he's back off the jersey shore. i guess its cool 4 us cuz we get 2 see him. but seriously, researchers r like "hey we need 2 study these sharks 2" b4 they disappear. so yeah, ocearch is doin a good thing here 
I think its awesome that we're getting more info on these incredible creatures 
. And its amazing how Ocearch has been tracking them since 2012, it must've taken a lot of effort but its definitely worth it 
. I'm glad we're getting more info on their migration patterns and habits too, its gonna help with conservation efforts 
.
. Its also cool to see that Ocearch has tracked another female great white Earnst, measuring 12 feet long and weighing around 1k pounds 
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. Its not just about the sharks though, its also about the ecosystem as a whole 
. We need to keep learning more about our oceans and the creatures that live in it 
.
I mean, can you believe that thing is 32 years old?! It's crazy how long those guys live... Interesting 
healthy for his age 
for conservation efforts - we need more research like Ocearch does to protect these magnificent creatures. Contender's journey is giving us some awesome insights into their habits and migration patterns. It's dope to think about how these sharks can travel thousands of miles each year 
. Can't wait to see what other secrets Ocearch uncovers 
The fact that Ocearch has been tracking Contender since Jan is MIND-BLOWING! And can you believe he's already traveled over 1,000 miles?! 
I mean, have you seen Mary Lee and Ironbound too? Those sharks are like the ROCKSTARS of the ocean! 
his journey takes him from Florida to Canada and everywhere in between 
it's wild how much we can learn about these creatures by trackin them like Contender here 
anyhoo, gotta give a shoutout to Ocearch for all the awesome work they're doin with conservation efforts 
and I gotta say, it's crazy to see how far he's traveled in 5 years! 
. And did you know that males like Contender tend to live longer than females? 
.
It's like having a front-row seat to the life of a majestic shark! 
. And can you believe he's been tracked since January? It's like he's got his own GPS tracker built-in! The researchers are learning so much from these guys about their migration patterns and habits, it's wild. And to think they've only been doing this for like 13 years now... I remember when I was a kid, we thought it was cool that humans could put up underwater cameras to study sharks, but now it's like we're basically having a conversation with them 
. Anyway, more power to Ocearch and their team - they're really making some waves in the conservation world!
But seriously, it's awesome that Ocearch is doing this research and providing valuable insights into great white shark behavior and migration patterns. It's helping us better understand these incredible creatures and inform conservation efforts 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that scientists are actually tracking these creatures? I mean, it's not every day you get to learn more about something as amazing as a great white shark 
. I'm low-key obsessed with the tracking data Ocearch is collectin', it's so cool to see how Contender navigates the ocean like a pro 
. Anyways, Ocearch is killin' it with these expeditions 
, can't wait to see what Contender's next ping brings!
, just imagine havin 32 yrs old shark swimmin around Atlantic coast and then u got this tag thingy trackin him 
The fact that Ocearch has been tracking him since Jan is insane, & now we get to see all these awesome details about his life journey 