Rebecca Manzi Contender, the largest male great white shark ever tagged, has been spotted for the first time in Canadian waters. He will provide satellite data for 5 years and help researchers understand the migration and health of the species in the North Atlantic
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Contender, the largest male great white shark ever captured, tagged, and released in the northwestern Atlantic has been spotted off the Canadian waters of Labrador. Measuring over 13 feet (4 meters) long and weighing an estimated 1,650 pounds (750 kilograms), his imposing size surprised even the researchers who installed a SPOT tag on him last January 17th, a satellite device capable of transmitting real-time data on his movements. This instrument will provide invaluable information for approximately five years, opening a unique window into the migratory behavior of one of the ocean’s most mysterious creatures.
A satellite-tracked journey
Thanks to SPOT (Smart Position and Temperature Tag) technology, every time Contender surfaces the satellite signal will indicate his position with great precision, just as it recently happened. Researchers will be able to follow his seasonal routes in real time, discovering whether he prefers the cold northern waters or if, like many of his kind, he migrates south during winter. The goal is to build an accurate map of great white shark movements in the North Atlantic, an area where scientific knowledge is still fragmented.
Biological analysis to understand species evolution
Beyond tagging, the team collected biological samples including urogenital material, which will allow them to study Contender’s physiology and genetics. These data will be fundamental for better understanding reproduction and the health status of the regional great white shark population. The analyses, already underway, may also reveal information about microplastic contamination or levels of heavy metals accumulated in large marine predators.
A new era for shark research
Constant monitoring of a specimen of such dimensions will help scientists protect the species and prevent human impacts on its habitat. Every piece of data we receive from Contender is a window into the ocean, a way to understand how sharks live and adapt to planetary changes. Through his silent journey among the currents, Contender will become a marine conservation ambassador, a symbol of how science and technology can unite to protect ocean ecosystems.
