Bob, Breton, and Contender. What do these three names have in common? They are all Great White Sharks that have been identified as hanging out off of Cape Canaveral during the last couple of weeks!
Among the three sharks, Contender is the largest, weighing in at 1653 pounds and measuring 13′ 9″ long. Not exactly who you would want to share your beach vacation with. And his swimming buddies are no lightweights either, with Breton measuring 13’3″ and weighing 1437 pounds, and Bob measuring 13’4 and weighing a relatively “skinny” 1308 pounds. (Is he healthier or just hungrier?)
At any rate, even if you love to swim in the cold waters of the North Atlantic this time of year, you probably don’t have to worry about becoming breakfast, as all of the sharks are several miles offshore and in several hundred feet of water. Of course, still, they are out there.
The research non-profit OSCERCH reported in January that they had managed to tag their largest Great White yet off of the Florida/Georgia coast. Naming him “Contender”, the group put an active transmitter on the nearly 14 foot long shark, which “pings” when the giant predator surfaces every few days, revealing his location. Contender has steadily been moving south, with the latest ping coming on February 10th. This placed him off of the coast of Cape Canaveral. By contrast, the last pings of Bob and Breton were in late January, which also placed them in the same general area of Florida waters.
Tracking Contender and his carnivorous pals are part of a project that began in November 2023; OCEARCH launched “Expedition Southeast,” its 46th ocean research expedition, from their new home base in Mayport, Florida. The expedition aimed to study mature white sharks to understand their overwintering behaviors better and identify critical oceanographic features and dietary resources. This endeavor involved 41 collaborators from 28 research institutions, supporting 24 distinct science projects promoting ocean abundance.
About OCEARCH
OCEARCH is a global non-profit organization dedicated to conducting unprecedented research on the ocean’s giants, particularly sharks, to help scientists collect previously unattainable data. Their mission is to accelerate the ocean’s return to balance and abundance through fearless innovations in critical scientific research, education, outreach, and policy, utilizing unique collaborations of individuals and organizations both in the U.S. and abroad.
Since its inception, OCEARCH has embarked on 48 expeditions, tagging 438 animals and collaborating with 200 scientists across 90 partner institutions. These efforts have resulted in 97 published papers, contributing significantly to understanding marine ecosystems.
A cornerstone of OCEARCH’s research involves the tagging of sharks. By capturing, tagging, and releasing these apex predators, OCEARCH provides scientists with critical data on shark movements, behaviors, and health. This information is vital for informing conservation efforts and ensuring the sustainability of shark populations.
In recent years, OCEARCH has expanded its research efforts to European waters. In the summer of 2024, they launched “Expedition Save the Med,” a multi-year project aimed at studying and protecting the critically endangered Mediterranean white shark population. The expedition focused on the waters surrounding Spain, France, and Ireland, regions where confirmed sightings of white sharks have been rare. By collaborating with regional scientists, OCEARCH seeks to gather essential data to inform conservation measures in the Mediterranean Sea.
You can watch the travels of Contender and other sharks on OCEARCH’s website.
