Ripple, a subadult great white shark being tracked by OCEARCH, has completed an extensive journey of more than 8,000 miles along the East Coast of North America, traveling from its tagging location off Nova Scotia down to the Gulf of Mexico and back.
Tagged in September 2025 near the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station in collaboration with OCEARCH, Ripple measured 11 feet, 6 inches and weighed 778 pounds at the time of tagging. The shark's recent tracking data shows it approximately 45 miles off the coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. In the last week alone, Ripple covered 354 miles, making it the leader for distance traveled among tagged sharks in that period.
This current location marks the northernmost point Ripple has been tracked by OCEARCH. The organization suggests Ripple may continue northeast toward Newfoundland or head northwest into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, an area known to be a significant feeding ground for white sharks.
Sharks like Ripple typically migrate north towards Canadian waters in search of cooler temperatures and abundant food sources during the warmer months. As fall and winter approach, these sharks generally begin migrating back south to warmer waters.
OCEARCH is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and protecting marine life, including sharks, whales, and sea turtles. The organization provides real-time tracking data for over 400 ocean animals through its Global Shark Tracker app.