The largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean has surfaced on researchers’ radar for the first time in months, and experts believe it is likely moving toward Cape Cod before continuing on to Canada’s eastern coast.
The massive male shark, known as “Contender,” measures 14 feet long and weighs about 1,700 pounds. It was last detected near North Carolina’s Outer Banks and is thought to be traveling north toward the popular Massachusetts summer destination, according to tracking data from OCEARCH.
A GPS device fitted to Contender’s fin last transmitted a signal on Friday, marking the first sign of the shark since it vanished into deeper waters following an April sighting off the Outer Banks.
However, OCEARCH said Friday’s detection was only a partial ping, meaning the signal was not strong enough to provide a precise location for the great white.
Even without an exact position, researchers say Contender’s likely route is consistent with the seasonal movement patterns of great white sharks in the region.
“White sharks in the western North Atlantic typically migrate north and spend the summer and early fall foraging in the waters of Cape Cod or Atlantic Canada,” an OCEARCH spokesperson told the Sun.
“These two regions offer comfortable water temperatures and an abundant food supply, in particular abundant seals and large fish species.”
