Largest Great White Shark on Record Is Swimming Towards a Tourist Hotspot

Just off the sun-warmed shores of North Carolina, where families gather to paddleboard, swim, and sunbathe, an unexpected visitor has made headlines. Contender, the largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, is quietly navigating the same waters that double as a summer playground for millions. At 14 feet long and weighing over 1,600 pounds, his presence is striking—not just for his size, but for what it reveals about our evolving relationship with the ocean.

Far from being a rogue predator, Contender is part of a natural and scientifically significant migration. Tracked by researchers at OCEARCH, his movements offer rare insight into the seasonal behavior of great whites and the health of the ecosystems they inhabit. Yet, as his satellite tag pings near popular coastlines, his story also raises important questions: How do we coexist with powerful marine wildlife? What can we learn from their journeys? And what role does science play in helping us understand and protect these apex creatures?

A Colossal Presence: Introducing Contender

Measuring 14 feet in length and weighing 1,653 pounds, Contender is the largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean—a formidable presence that has captured the attention of scientists and the public alike. At approximately 30 years old, Contender is a fully mature male, an age and size that places him at the upper threshold of what’s typical for his sex. Male great whites generally reach maturity at around 11 to 13 feet, whereas females tend to grow larger, sometimes exceeding 16 feet. For comparison, the largest great white on record globally is a female known as Deep Blue, believed to measure about 20 feet and weigh over 2,000 kilograms. While Contender doesn’t quite match those extremes, his mass and mobility make him an extraordinary specimen—and one of the most significant sharks to be actively tracked in the North Atlantic.

Contender was first tagged in January 2025 by scientists from OCEARCH, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to studying large marine predators and supporting marine conservation through open-access data. The tagging occurred near the Florida-Georgia border, where the team collected biological samples and fitted him with a SPOT (Smart Position and Temperature) satellite tag. These trackers only transmit when a shark’s dorsal fin breaks the water’s surface, which means long stretches without data—like the month Contender recently spent off the radar—are not uncommon. However, when a ping does occur, it offers a valuable window into the shark’s location, behavior, and seasonal movement patterns. Since resurfacing near Pamlico Sound off the coast of North Carolina, Contender has become a focal point not just for marine scientists, but also for the many tourists and beachgoers who now realize they’re sharing the waters with one of nature’s most iconic predators.

According to Dr. Harley Newton, OCEARCH’s chief scientist and a veterinarian based in Florida, Contender’s current position is no coincidence. “This time of year, white sharks are starting their late spring and early summer migration from their southern overwintering area to their summer and fall foraging areas in the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada,” she explained. His detour through North Carolina’s coastal waters is part of a well-documented migratory path that includes a critical feeding period. Sharks like Contender often pause near the Outer Banks to hunt and build up energy reserves before embarking on their 1,000-mile northbound journey. This seasonal pattern underscores just how interconnected different regions of the Atlantic are when it comes to supporting these top-level predators, and how local sightings can reflect much larger ecological processes.

Coastal Crossroads: Why North Carolina Matters

The recent appearance of Contender near Pamlico Sound, a popular summer destination in North Carolina, is more than a fleeting curiosity—it highlights the ecological importance of this coastal region and the intersection between human recreation and apex predator behavior. Pamlico Sound and the adjacent Outer Banks are not only vacation hotspots for families but also rich feeding grounds for migrating great white sharks. The area’s productive waters, teeming with fish and marine mammals, serve as a seasonal buffet for large predators preparing for their long northward migrations. According to OCEARCH’s Dr. Harley Newton, great whites typically linger here to feed and replenish their energy before continuing their journey to cooler northern waters, including those off New England and Atlantic Canada.

This convergence of sharks and swimmers raises inevitable public concern, but experts are quick to stress that the presence of a shark like Contender does not equate to imminent danger. Great white sharks are naturally wary of humans, and attacks remain exceedingly rare. That said, the proximity of such a large apex predator to densely visited beaches serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between marine wildlife and human activity. While the ocean may seem boundless, the zones where sharks and humans intersect are increasingly narrow, especially as tourism expands and changing ocean temperatures alter migration patterns. What may seem like a surprising appearance by Contender is, in fact, part of a predictable and biologically important movement—one that simply happens to pass by some of the most popular surf in the country.

For researchers, this overlap provides a valuable opportunity to engage the public with real-time science. Tools like OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker allow anyone to follow Contender’s movements online, turning an abstract idea of marine migration into a tangible, trackable journey. These interactive tools not only demystify sharks but also foster greater awareness of their role in ocean ecosystems. Meanwhile, for local officials and beachgoers, access to such data can aid in making informed decisions without resorting to fear-driven responses. Understanding why sharks are drawn to these waters—and how they behave once they arrive—is a crucial step in maintaining both public safety and marine conservation.

The Science Behind the Tag: How Tracking Helps Conservation

While Contender’s movements have captured public attention, the technology behind his tracking represents a vital tool in marine research and conservation. The satellite tag affixed to his dorsal fin is part of a broader initiative by OCEARCH to collect long-term data on the behavior, health, and migration of apex marine predators. Known as a SPOT (Smart Position and Temperature) tag, the device transmits real-time GPS data whenever the shark surfaces, allowing scientists to follow his journey with impressive accuracy. These transmissions don’t just provide location—they also reveal patterns in surfacing behavior, environmental conditions, and even seasonal timing. Over time, this data paints a detailed picture of individual sharks’ lives, contributing to a larger understanding of how great whites interact with their environment.

The data gathered from Contender and others like him feeds directly into scientific studies on predator-prey dynamics, climate impacts on migration, and the identification of critical habitats. For example, researchers can correlate repeated visits to areas like the Outer Banks with the availability of prey species, such as schools of fish or seal populations. This helps clarify not only where sharks go, but why they go there—insight that’s crucial for developing targeted conservation strategies. Knowing where sharks gather to feed, breed, or rest allows for the protection of those specific areas from harmful activities like overfishing, pollution, or unregulated coastal development.

Moreover, these tracking efforts have implications beyond just shark science. Great whites are considered keystone species, meaning their health reflects the broader condition of the marine ecosystem. As top predators, they help maintain balance in the food web by keeping prey populations in check, indirectly supporting biodiversity at every level below them. When scientists monitor sharks like Contender, they’re also monitoring the overall stability and health of the oceans they inhabit.

The Bigger Picture: Climate, Conservation, and Coexistence

While the story of Contender is captivating on its own, it also illustrates a broader, more urgent reality: the challenges facing great white sharks—and ocean life in general—are intensifying. As apex predators, great whites are sensitive to changes in ocean temperature, prey availability, and habitat quality. These variables are increasingly influenced by human-driven climate change, which is warming sea surface temperatures and shifting the traditional boundaries of marine ecosystems. Sharks that once followed predictable migratory paths may now be adjusting their routes, surfacing in areas they hadn’t frequented before, or changing their seasonal timing—all of which complicate both scientific understanding and conservation planning.

One critical concern is that as sharks adapt to environmental shifts, they’re encountering human activity more frequently. Coastal development, commercial fishing, and recreational use of ocean spaces are all expanding, putting pressure on species that rely on open, undisturbed migratory corridors. Overfishing is particularly concerning—not just for sharks themselves, which are sometimes caught as bycatch, but also for their prey species. A depleted food supply forces predators to roam farther or linger longer in coastal areas where food is still abundant, increasing the likelihood of human-shark interactions. This isn’t necessarily dangerous in itself, but it does require thoughtful management to ensure the safety and health of both sharks and humans.

These shifting dynamics point to the need for robust, science-based conservation policies. Data from sharks like Contender can support the designation of marine protected areas, inform catch limits on key prey species, and help predict future habitat use in a warming ocean. Conservation is no longer just about saving charismatic animals—it’s about maintaining the integrity of entire ecosystems. As Dr. Harley Newton and her colleagues at OCEARCH have emphasized, the real-time study of apex predators like Contender is helping reshape how we think about ocean management. Their findings can directly influence legislation and global efforts to combat biodiversity loss in marine environments.

But coexistence is not just a scientific challenge—it’s a cultural one. Public perception of sharks still suffers from the legacy of fear popularized by films and sensational headlines. Yet, stories like Contender’s offer a chance to reframe the narrative. Rather than creatures to fear, sharks can be understood as essential allies in preserving the health of our oceans. They are indicators of environmental resilience and sentinels of change. By shifting the lens from fear to curiosity and respect, we not only protect sharks but also promote a more sustainable relationship with the ocean itself.

A Call for Awareness: Living With, Not Against, the Ocean

As Contender continues his journey up the Atlantic coast, his presence offers more than just scientific insights—it invites reflection on how we, as a society, interact with the natural world. The fact that a 1,653-pound apex predator can glide silently just offshore from some of the most crowded beaches on the East Coast is both awe-inspiring and instructive. It reminds us that the ocean is not ours alone to enjoy—it is a shared space, home to intricate ecosystems that function best when we allow them to thrive. Rather than reacting with fear, we are called to respond with understanding, respect, and responsible stewardship.

Living alongside species like great white sharks requires a mindset shift. That begins with public education—moving away from sensationalized portrayals and instead embracing science-based understanding. Tools like OCEARCH’s live shark tracker, media coverage rooted in fact, and public-facing research initiatives help bridge the gap between scientific communities and everyday beachgoers. By demystifying shark behavior and making the science accessible, we can reduce irrational fear and replace it with informed awareness. This not only benefits shark conservation but fosters broader environmental literacy at a time when ocean health is at a tipping point.

More importantly, Contender’s story underscores the importance of policy backed by research. Protecting sharks means protecting their food sources, migratory routes, and the coastal waters that support entire webs of life. Every surface ping from his satellite tag strengthens the case for ocean conservation, giving weight to policy efforts and helping stakeholders—from local governments to international agencies—make decisions that balance ecological preservation with human interests.