THE biggest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic has been caught by scientists.
Researchers say the 14ft, 1,653lb predator known as Contender could help unlock one of the ocean’s greatest mysteries.
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The colossal shark, estimated to be around 30 years old, was first tagged by marine research group OCEARCH in January about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast.
His satellite tracker only “pings” when his dorsal fin breaks the surface.
And last week, it did just that, near the remote Gulf of St. Lawrence off Canada’s Labrador Peninsula.
Researchers say that makes Contender “one of the furthest northern pinging sharks that we’ve had.”
All summer and fall, the giant predator has been gorging on seals to bulk up for his return south in winter.
Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH, said: “Only a couple have made it that far north.
“An animal like that, spending the summer and fall up north – what are they doing?
“Well, a lot of what they’re doing is preparing for the winter.”
Fischer said Contender is “putting a lot of pressure on the seals, eating seals constantly, swimming in front of seal colonies, trying to put on some weight before he proceeds back down to Florida for the oncoming winter.”
And that seal-slaughtering spree is doing more than just feeding the shark.
“The byproduct of putting that pressure on the seals is really good, they’re guarding our fish stocks,” Fischer said.
“We know that if the white sharks are in front of the seals putting pressure on them, they eat one-fourth as much per day.
“If that white shark’s not there, those seals go out and they wipe out all the fish.”
Contender’s northern adventure also highlights the great white’s adaptability.
“White sharks have the capacity to warm themselves and be in cold water, but they have to have a lot of food,” Fischer explained.
“Like horses in winter – as long as they have food, they’re fine. If they run out of food, they freeze very quickly.”
Contender briefly surfaced off Natashquan, Canada, on September 29, followed by a “z-ping” on October 2 – a fleeting signal too brief to pinpoint his exact location.
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Tagged just months ago, the shark represents hope for a species once devastated by overfishing.
“We wiped out the sharks so badly in the seventies, eighties, and sixties – we got down to nine percent of our population,” Fischer said.
Now, Contender could help scientists solve a mystery that has eluded them for decades: where great whites mate.
“These big mature males are hugely important because they can help us understand where and when mating is occurring,” Fischer said.
Unlike females with complex two-year migratory cycles, “the male white sharks basically have their whole year revolve around mating.”
“There’s never been a white shark mating site identified anywhere in the world in any one of the nine populations,” he added.
“It would be a first.”
The shark’s movements over the next year – especially in spring 2026 – could offer crucial clues.
Early signs point to the southeastern United States as a possible hotspot.
Despite his massive size, Contender could grow even larger, possibly topping 20 feet as he ages.
“It’ll be really interesting to watch Contender this year,” Fischer said.
“I want to know where Contender will be in March of 2026, in April of 2026.
“I think that could be a massive clue for identifying where they mate.”
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