A massive great white shark has surfaced near the Outer Banks this week, offering a rare glimpse into great white migration. The shark, nicknamed “Contender”, a record-breaking male tagged by OCEARCH in January, recently pinged near Pamlico Sound off North Carolina. Weighing approximately 1,653 pounds and stretching 14 feet long, the massive great white is the largest ever tagged in the Atlantic.
OCEARCH chief scientist Dr. Harley Newton said, “We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing.” The shark’s SPOT tag transmitted its signal on June 7, confirming its movement from winter waters near Florida and Georgia toward summer feeding grounds in the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada.
Researchers believe this stop near North Carolina helps the apex predator refuel before embarking on its anticipated over-1,000-mile trek. Although previously off-grid for weeks, the tag provides up to five years of migration data and biological samples like urogenital material, which aid long-term marine studies.
Out-of-water observers can be reassured: Contender remains offshore, posing no immediate threat to beachgoers. OCEARCH emphasizes that great whites play a vital role in marine ecosystems by controlling prey populations. Conservationists say data from Contender will help protect these endangered apex predators amid pressures from overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change.
As summer warms Atlantic waters, Contender continues his trek, silently patrolling our coastal waters. Its journey sheds light on a complex marine world that thrives just beyond our shores.
