Latest news with #ContenderBoats
Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Biggest Great White Shark Ever Tracked in Atlantic Zigzags Off US Coast
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The largest great white shark tagged by researchers in the Atlantic has surfaced near North Carolina on a swim to northern waters. Contender the shark was first SPOT tagged off the coast of Florida on January 17 and has been located again by oceanographers who have measured Contender at 1,653 lbs and 13 feet and 9 inches long, making him the largest great white tagged by OCEARCH researchers. Great whites tend to migrate to cooler waters during the summer months after spending the winter in warmer conditions, which explains his swims from Florida to North Carolina, totaling about 1,870 miles since January. The OCEARCH research team has been contacted for comment via email. Contender the 1,653lb shark being tagged by OCEARCH researchers. Contender the 1,653lb shark being tagged by OCEARCH researchers. OCEARCH Why It Matters Shark tourism has become a part of the summer economy in the North Atlantic, particularly off the shores of Cape Cod. In a summer when fewer Canadian tourists may be visiting the Northeast, the chance to see Contender in the wild may assist with tourism numbers in beach towns. Researchers say that following Contender's movements will assist with oceanic and conservation research. What To Know Contender is named after Contender Boats, a partner of OCEARCH research. Although some may see him as the ultimate ocean horror, OCEARCH researchers prefer to describe him as "the ultimate ocean warrior." This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Jaws hitting movie theaters. This film had a significant impact on sharks and shark perceptions across the United States. It resulted in people fleeing beaches and humans seeking out sharks in their natural habitat to kill them. Fifty years later, oceanographers are working to correct the record on sharks and educate people on why sharks are a critical part of the ocean's ecosystem and need to be protected. Peter Benchley, the author of the novel Jaws, which the film is based on, went on to spend the rest of his life working in shark conservation, as he felt guilty over how the shark population suffered due to his work. Prior to his death, Benchley wrote: "I couldn't write Jaws today. The extensive new knowledge of sharks would make it impossible for me to create, in good conscience, a villain of the magnitude and malignity of the original." Speaking about how Jaws has impacted their research, Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH said in a press release: "Our research in the very waters where JAWS was set—from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia and down to the Gulf of Mexico—is uncovering the real-life migratory patterns and critical habitats of white sharks. "This knowledge is demonstrating just how essential these predators are to maintaining the health and balance of our oceans." What People Are Saying Dr. Harley Newton, chief scientist and veterinarian at OCEARCH, said in a press release: "Through the multidisciplinary research we facilitate, we are developing a more complete understanding of the Western North Atlantic white shark, including their essential habitats and threats to population recovery. This data contributes to global white shark conservation efforts and will help shape fisheries management policies that we hope will ensure a healthy future for sharks and the oceans they protect." What Happens Next Contender is expected to keep swimming north up toward Canada. People invested in his journey can follow his tag at OCEARCH Shark Tracker.
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
‘Biggest shark EVER tagged by researchers' – 14ft & 1,600lb great white dubbed ‘The Contender' – spotted prowling off US
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE biggest shark ever tagged by researchers has been spotted prowling up the US east coast. Known as 'The Contender', the massive white shark is currently skulking around the North Carolina coast. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Stock image of a Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, South Africa, Dyer Island Credit: Getty 3 Scientists track its progress through a tag that "pings" every time the shark's fin breaks the water's surface Credit: Getty 3 The behemoth was previously seen following the Gulf Stream south near Florida. Weighing 1,600 pounds, the beast was first tagged on January 17 this year about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It was the largest ever shark tagged by research group OCEARCH in the area. Contender, an adult white shark, measures 13 feet and nine inches. From its starting point, Contender stuck to familiar surrounding for the first few weeks of its journey, clinging to the area around the Florida coast. Scientists track its progress through a tag that "pings" every time the shark's fin breaks the water's surface. OCEARCH said the fin needs to be above water for around 90 seconds for the location to be fully accurate. Its website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns." Despite Contender's voyage trending south from January through to March, the latest pings have show the beast much further north. The shark didn't emerge for a ping between March 12 and April 8, during which time it had made its way nearer to coastal North Carolina. Contender has travelled more than 1,400 miles over the past 109 days. Since emerging near North Carolina, the shark has been prowling up and down the state's coastal waters. But beachgoers need not panic, as Contender has kept well clear of the shore so far. The most recent ping on May 5 had the shark heading southwards in the vague direction of Onslow Bay. OCEARCH's website describes Contender as "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It also says his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. Sharks will tend to head north and further out to sea during the spring and summer months, according to biologists. A good supply of seals off the northeast US and Canada, makes it a popular destination for sharks.
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
‘Biggest shark EVER tagged by researchers' – 14ft & 1,600lb great white dubbed ‘The Contender' – spotted prowling off US
THE biggest shark ever tagged by researchers has been spotted prowling up the US east coast. Known as 'The Contender', the massive white shark is currently skulking around the North Carolina coast. 3 Stock image of a Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, South Africa, Dyer Island Credit: Getty 3 Scientists track its progress through a tag that "pings" every time the shark's fin breaks the water's surface Credit: Getty 3 The behemoth was previously seen following the Gulf Stream south near Florida. Weighing 1,600 pounds, the beast was first tagged on January 17 this year about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It was the largest ever shark tagged by research group OCEARCH in the area. Contender, an adult white shark, measures 13 feet and nine inches. From its starting point, Contender stuck to familiar surrounding for the first few weeks of its journey, clinging to the area around the Florida coast. Scientists track its progress through a tag that "pings" every time the shark's fin breaks the water's surface. OCEARCH said the fin needs to be above water for around 90 seconds for the location to be fully accurate. Its website says: "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns." Most read in The US Sun Despite Contender's voyage trending south from January through to March, the latest pings have show the beast much further north. The shark didn't emerge for a ping between March 12 and April 8, during which time it had made its way nearer to coastal North Carolina. Contender has travelled more than 1,400 miles over the past 109 days. Since emerging near North Carolina, the shark has been prowling up and down the state's coastal waters. But beachgoers need not panic, as Contender has kept well clear of the shore so far. The most recent ping on May 5 had the shark heading southwards in the vague direction of Onslow Bay. OCEARCH's website describes Contender as "the ultimate ocean warrior" and a "mature male" specimen. It also says his nickname comes in honour of Contender Boats - an old partner of the research group. Read more on the Irish Sun Sharks will tend to head north and further out to sea during the spring and summer months, according to biologists. A good supply of seals off the northeast US and
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Largest male white shark spotted off the east coast of Florida
WESTERN-NORTH ATLANTIC, Fla. (WFLA) — A record-breaking male white shark was found 45 miles off the Georgia-Florida coast, making big waves on Jan. 17. This male shark is the largest tagged fin that the OCEARCH has seen in this part of the Atlantic. Drone video catches Bonnethead sharks near fisherman on Pinellas County beach He is about 14 feet long and weighs around 1,653 pounds. His new name is now 'Contender' named in honor of the Contender Boats. On Feb. 10, Contender the shark was pinged off the coast around Cape Canaveral. To follow Contenders journey and other tagged sharks, in the Atlantic, visit the OCEARCH shark tracker. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
08-02-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Largest white shark ever caught, tagged pings near Florida coast
The largest male white shark ever caught, tagged and released is approaching Florida's east coast, near Jacksonville. Contender, a 13.8-foot, 1,653 pound adult shark, was tagged on Jan. 17 in the western Northwest Atlantic, off the Florida-Georgia border. He appears to be moving south, most recently surfacing near St. Augustine at about 10 a.m. Thursday., according to OCEARCH, the research group that tagged Contender. In a Facebook post, the group said Contender will provide valuable real-time data for about five years. OCEARCH told affilliate FOX 13 Tampa Bay that the tag on Contender needs to be exposed to the air for around 90 seconds, to triangulate the shark's location accurately. Researchers will track the shark's movements to understand its migration patterns. At the time of tagging, the group also collected "important" biological samples from Contender, including urogenital material, which are currently being analyzed, according to the post. Contender's name is in honor of the Contender Boats company, which partners with OCEARCH. "Their commitment to performance and innovation is essential to our ability to explore and protect our oceans," according to the OCEARCH website. Great white sharks often leave their summer feeding grounds to enjoy warmer waters and more abundant food sources. Marine biologists tagged nearly 400 sharks, mostly great white or tiger sharks, as of late 2024, Fox 13 reported. FOX 13 Tampa Bay's Aurielle Eady and Fox Weather contributed to this story.
