Giant great white shark being tracked surfaces near Atlantic City

By Adam Dutton

The largest great white male shark ever tagged in the Atlantic by a group of scientists has surfaced off the coast of New Jersey — giving experts a glimpse into migration habits.

Contender, the 14-foot great white weighing more than 1,600 pounds, surfaced just nine miles south of Atlantic City on Nov. 6.

The expert hunter is heading south after spending the warmer summer months in the Atlantic off the coast of Canada.

The ocean giant recently passed through the Straight of Belle before turning south into the Newfoundland Sea, off Canada.

He was originally tagged offshore of the Florida-Georgia border on Jan. 17 last year by marine research group by OCEARCH.

The 31-year-old animal’s tracker only transmits a locating signal — or “ping” — when the shark’s dorsal fin is briefly exposed above the water’s surface.

According to OCEARCH, this recent “ping” allows scientists to track and compare Contenders movements creating a pattern of where sharks travel and what drives movements.

OCEARCH senior data analyst John Tyminski said: “The white shark’s southerly migration is underway, but not everyone is on the same schedule.

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“As autumn progresses and waters cool across the North West Atlantic, white sharks begin their seasonal migration to warmer, more southerly waters.

“For many white sharks that spend the summer and fall in Atlantic Canada and off the North Eastern United States, this means heading toward the South Eastern US.

“Interestingly, this migration doesn’t happen all at once. Individual sharks begin their southward journey at different times and their routes can vary considerably.”

John added: “Clearly the seasonal migration of western North Atlantic white sharks is underway, but these movements also highlight just how much individual timing and routes can differ.”

In a social media statement, OCEARCH said: “Contender, the largest male white shark ever tagged by OCEARCH in the Western North Atlantic, is heading south after spending the past four months in Atlantic Canada.

“His latest ping on November 6 placed him approximately nine miles south of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“Interestingly, Contender was detected in this same general area around this time last year.

“Comparing his movements from one season to the next gives scientists another opportunity to learn more about his migration patterns and behavior.

“While the seasonal migration is underway, not all white sharks follow the same schedule or take the same route.

“Environmental factors like day length and sea surface temperature can influence when sharks begin moving south. Previous migration experience, site fidelity, and individual behavior may also help explain why some sharks migrate earlier or later than others.”