Florida sees a historical moment as scientists secure a colossal Great White Shark, breaking all past record lengths.
In a groundbreaking discovery off the coast of Florida and Georgia, researchers from Ocearch tagged a remarkable male great white shark named Contender in January 2025 [1]. This extraordinary find marks a significant milestone in shark research and conservation, as Contender is the largest great white shark ever tagged by Ocearch in the western North Atlantic Ocean [3][4].
Contender measures an impressive 4.2 meters in length and weighs a staggering 750 kilograms, surpassing previous assumptions about the species [1]. As an adult male, Contender reached sexual maturity at a relatively late age of 26, a common characteristic among great white sharks [2].
To study Contender’s behavior, researchers attached a SPOT satellite tag on its dorsal fin, enabling continuous tracking of its migration patterns, feeding habits, and seasonal movements. Since tagging, Contender has traveled over 470 kilometers, moving from the coast near Georgia where it was tagged, down to Florida, and then northward up the U.S. east coast, with recent signals near Nantucket, Massachusetts and Georges Bank [1][3][2].
Insights from tracking Contender are critical for understanding how great whites use coastal and offshore habitats across large ranges. This information helps researchers identify key feeding and breeding areas, contributing to improved conservation strategies targeting threats like overfishing and climate change. As apex predators, great whites like Contender play a pivotal role in maintaining ocean ecosystem health by regulating species populations [1].
Ocearch’s tracking data is updated regularly and is accessible through their public portal, allowing both scientists and the public to follow Contender’s journey in real time [2][3]. The tag is expected to continue providing valuable data for approximately five years, offering unprecedented long-term insights into the species’ life history and migration dynamics.
This discovery marks a significant step in shark research and conservation, leveraging advanced tracking technology to deepen scientific knowledge and support the survival of great white sharks in a changing ocean environment [1][3][4]. The most recent signal from Contender was detected at Merritt Island, Florida, and finding a shark of Contender's size and maturity is a rare event in the world of marine research.
| Aspect | Details | |------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | Size & Maturity | Nearly 14 feet, 1,653 pounds, adult male | | Tagging Date and Location | January 2025, off coast of Georgia | | Tracking Device | SPOT satellite tag on dorsal fin | | Migration Range | Georgia → Florida → North Carolina → Massachusetts coastline (Nantucket) | | Purpose of Tracking | Study migration, feeding habits, seasonal behavior | | Conservation Impact | Identifying critical habitats, informing protection against human threats | | Tag Longevity | ~5 years |
[1] Ocearch (2025). Contender: Tracking the Largest Great White Shark Ever Tagged in the Western North Atlantic. [Online]. Available: https://ocearch.org/sharks/contender/
[2] Ocearch (2025). Contender's Journey. [Online]. Available: https://track.ocearch.org/shark/contender
[3] National Geographic (2025). Tracking the Largest Great White Shark Ever Tagged. [Online]. Available: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/ocean/news/2025/02/tracking-the-largest-great-white-shark-ever-tagged/
[4] Discovery Channel (2025). Giant Great White Shark Tagged by Ocearch: What We Know So Far. [Online]. Available: https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week/news/giant-great-white-shark-tagged-by-ocearch-what-we-know-so-far/
- The large amount of data collected from Contender, the great white shark tagged off the coast of Florida and Georgia in 2025, is crucial for the environmental-science community to better understand climate-change impacts on ocean ecosystems, as Contender's migration patterns can provide insights into critical feeding and breeding areas.
- Advancements in technology, such as data-and-cloud-computing and SPOT satellite tags, have revolutionized the field of science by enabling real-time monitoring of species like Contender, contributing to more effective environmental conservation strategies and improving our comprehension of the behavior of apex predators like great white sharks.
- As research progresses, scientists will continue to analyze the data gathered from Contender, potentially unveiling new insights related to science, technology, and our environment through the assessment of its interactions with changing ocean conditions, feeding habits, and migration patterns.
