In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers have tagged a massive male great white shark off the East Coast, naming him "Contender." This extraordinary specimen measures 13 feet, 9 inches (4.2 meters) and weighs an estimated 1,653 pounds (750 kilograms). Notably, Contender is the largest male great white shark ever studied in the northwest Atlantic. He was tagged on January 17, approximately 45 miles (70 kilometers) east of the Georgia-Florida border, marking a significant milestone for marine research.
Contender's impressive dimensions set him apart from typical large males, which, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, reach between 11 to 13 feet (3.4 to 4 meters) long. At nearly 14 feet, Contender exceeds these measurements by about 9 inches (23 centimeters). Dr. Harley Newton expressed excitement over encountering such a rare specimen, stating:
"Male white sharks mature at approximately 26 years of age and around 11.5 feet [3.5 m], so certainly we were excited to see an animal of his size at nearly 14 feet [4.3 m]," – Dr. Harley Newton
The tagging of Contender contributes significantly to the understanding of great white sharks in the region. OCEARCH researchers focus on tagging white sharks during their winter residency off the southeastern United States, and Contender represents only the third adult animal caught and sampled this season.
Once tagged, Contender had a SPOT tag attached to his first dorsal fin. This technology allows researchers to track his movements via satellite, capturing a signal each time he surfaces. Since his tagging, Contender has traveled approximately 290 miles (470 kilometers), with the latest data recorded on February 10 showing his presence east of Merritt Island, near Orlando, Florida.
The study of Contender seeks to shed light on the elusive nature of adult great whites, who often reside in deeper waters and further offshore from active tagging sites. Dr. Harley Newton explained:
"The elusiveness of the adult animals for researchers may simply reflect that they spend their time in deeper waters/further offshore from sites where active tagging efforts are being performed," – Dr. Harley Newton
While Contender is a remarkable find, he remains smaller than the largest reliably measured great white shark recorded by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, which reached a length of 19 feet, 9 inches (6 meters). Female great whites typically grow even larger, reaching around 20 feet (6.1 meters).
Contender's tagging not only highlights the potential size difference between male and female great whites but also emphasizes the importance of continued research to better understand these formidable creatures' behaviors and migration patterns.
