Researchers are tracking the movements of Contender, a massive white shark tagged off the Florida coast. Contender, at nearly 14 feet long and weighing over 1,600 pounds, may be the largest male white shark ever tagged by OCEARCH. His journey will provide valuable data for shark research and ocean conservation.
Researchers are following the journey of what may be the largest male white shark ever tagged by OCEARCH . Recent signals from the massive shark indicate its location off Florida's east coast, near Jacksonville.Named Contender, this ocean giant was tagged on January 17th in the western North Atlantic, just off the Florida-Georgia border. Measuring nearly 14 feet long and weighing a staggering 1,653 pounds, Contender is a truly remarkable specimen.
Contender's journey will contribute significantly to researchers' efforts in shark research and ocean conservation. According to OCEARCH's website, the SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years. This data will help track his movements and shed light on his migration patterns. Researchers have also collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analyzed. The large shark is named after Contender Boats, honoring the company's longstanding partnership with OCEARCH. Contender Boats' top-performing sport fishing and pleasure boats are instrumental in supporting OCEARCH's ocean exploration and conservation initiatives.There's no need for beachgoers to cancel their Florida vacations as Contender has generally stayed more than 40 miles off the coast. Biologists explain that sharks often migrate to the waters off Florida and the Southeast during the fall and winter in search of prey. During the spring and summer, these marine animals tend to travel further offshore and head northward towards the Northeast U.S. and Canada to feed on seals. The International Fund for Animal Welfare estimates that the global population of white sharks exceeds 3,000 and is not currently considered endangered. However, climate change and entanglements pose threats to their population. OCEARCH states that the tag on Contender needs to be exposed to air for approximately 90 seconds to accurately triangulate the shark's location. The battery is designed to last around five years, but its lifespan depends entirely on how often the shark surfaces. As of late 2024, marine biologists have tagged nearly 400 sharks, most of which are either great white or tiger sharks. You can follow Contender's journey on OCEARCH's shark tracker: https://www.ocearch.org/tracker
SHARK WHITESHARKS OCEARCH MARINEBIOLOGY CONSERVATION
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