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Giant great white shark 'Contender' surfaces near Outer Banks
USA Today • • science
Key Points:
- The largest tagged great white shark in the Atlantic, named "Contender," measuring nearly 14 feet and weighing 1,653 pounds, resurfaced off the coast of North Carolina near the Outer Banks.
- Contender was first tagged on January 17, 2025, off the Florida-Georgia coast by OCEARCH, a global marine research group tracking shark migration and sightings.
- The shark, estimated to be just over 30 years old, is currently heading toward Cape Cod and the eastern coast of Canada as part of its seasonal northward migration in search of warmer waters and more abundant food.
- Contender’s location is tracked via a Smart Position and Temperature Transmitting tag on its dorsal fin that sends near-live signals when the shark surfaces, with recent pings recorded on April 14, April 23, and July 10.
- OCEARCH honors its partner Contender Boats by naming the shark after them, and the public can track Contender and other tagged sharks through the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app available on multiple platforms.
