The largest male great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic, known as Contender, has been detected in Canadian waters after a period of activity along the US East Coast. The shark, measuring 13 feet and nine inches and weighing nearly 1,700 pounds, was last tracked by the research group OCEARCH on Wednesday. Its tracker emitted a signal from the waters between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, near the Strait of Belle Isle.
Contender's recent activity began near the eastern tip of Anticosti Island on August 15, followed by a journey northeast through the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Pings were recorded near Quebec's Lower North Shore four days later. These sightings occurred months after Contender's tracker had gone silent in late April, while the shark was near North Carolina. A brief signal was received on July 10, but it did not reveal the shark's precise location.
OCEARCH noted that gaps in tracking data do not signify the shark's disappearance, as its satellite tag transmits only when the dorsal fin surfaces. A signal on Wednesday was a 'Z-ping,' indicating a brief surface appearance insufficient for the Argos satellite system to lock onto and determine an exact location. Scientists currently know Contender is alive and active, potentially in new hunting grounds in the North Atlantic.
Mazes of thousands of miles along the US coast have been covered by the massive shark. Research published in Marine Ecology Progress Series suggests that waters near Massachusetts may be fully revitalized and frequented by great white sharks, with an estimated 800 individuals visiting the area between 2015 and 2018. Contender was observed near the Massachusetts coast approximately one year ago, a region known for its seal population, a primary food source for great whites.
Last September, Contender was seen traveling into Canadian waters, approaching the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec, over 1,200 miles from its last known position near North Carolina earlier this year. This movement aligns with the species' typical migration patterns, as great whites generally travel north during the summer to follow suitable water temperatures and prey. Atlantic Canada serves as a significant feeding ground for the species through the fall.
Separately, a cluster of great white sharks was recently observed off a popular beach in Maine. On August 4, two juvenile great whites, estimated to be six to eight feet long, were seen near Pine Point Beach in Scarborough. Later, up to seven additional sharks were reported near Pine Point Jetty. Photographer Karl Ramsdell described the scene, stating, "They were everywhere." Great white sharks are native to the Gulf of Maine, with sightings typically occurring from May through December, peaking between July and September. However, the concentration of five to seven sharks in a small area over two days is considered uncommon, likely due to favorable summer temperatures and abundant prey such as baitfish and harbor seals.
Officials in Maine advised beachgoers to stay close to shore, avoid swimming alone or near seals and baitfish, follow lifeguard instructions, and leave the water immediately if a shark appears. Maine has recorded two confirmed unprovoked shark attacks since 1837, including a fatal great white attack near Bailey Island in 2020.