A 12-foot, 1,000-pound great white shark, identified as "Ernst," was tracked off the coast of Long Island's East End in late June. Data from OCEARCH's shark tracker indicates Ernst first pinged on June 20 near Montauk before heading north towards Cape Cod and eventually the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada.
Experts suggest that a larger great white shark, a 14-foot, 1,700-pound male named "Contender," may be following a similar migratory path from Florida up the East Coast. Contender is currently located near the Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. Both sharks appear to be traveling along similar routes, raising the possibility of their presence near Long Island waters this summer if their patterns hold.
White sharks in the western North Atlantic typically migrate north to spend the summer and early fall foraging in areas such as Cape Cod and Atlantic Canada, according to an OCEARCH spokesperson.
This tracking data emerges amidst a reported increase in shark sightings and bites along the coast this year. Beaches from Long Island to the Rockaways have experienced temporary closures or warnings due to suspected bull shark activity, with one swimmer reportedly suffering a bone-exposed bite wound off Jones Beach. In response, authorities across Long Island have enhanced shark patrols, employing boats and drones for coastal monitoring.
Despite these precautions, experts caution that shark behavior remains unpredictable. "It's unpredictable what's going to happen this season," stated Frank Quevedo, an environmental scientist and executive director of the South Fork Natural History Museum.