RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A great white shark weighing over 1,400 pounds is lurking off the North Carolina coast.
OCEARCH began tracking the 13-foot-3-inch, 1,437-pound great white back in 2020, naming it ‘Breton.” Each tag gathers 24 types of critical data, from genetics and health assessments to long-range migration patterns, as well as reproductive status.
The non-profit is a global leader in ocean research and shark conservation. Most recently, OCEARCH tagged its largest male white shark ever named “Contender.”
“This marks a significant milestone in understanding the migratory patterns, reproductive behaviors, and survival strategies of these apex predators,” according to OCEARCH.
OCEARCH says data is helping them map essential shark habitats and inform future conservation efforts.
“While ‘JAWS’ captured the world’s fascination with great white sharks, OCEARCH is now, for the first time in history, revealing the true story of these majestic apex predators,” said Chris Fischer, the founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH. “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 demonstrates just how essential these predators are to maintaining the health and balance of our oceans.”
Since its founding in 2007, OCEARCH has conducted nearly 50 expeditions and tagged close to 500 sharks, collaborating with more than 90 research institutions worldwide.
Their work has created a historic baseline of data, revealing critical insights into the breeding, feeding and migratory behaviors of white sharks, with a focus on the western North Atlantic—the waters where ‘JAWS’ was set.
