A family in Queensland, Australia had an incredible experience when they captured footage of a great white shark circling their boat for over 15 minutes. The awe-inspiring encounter showcases the mighty predator in its natural habitat. Meanwhile, off the coast of Georgia, another remarkable sighting of a nearly 14-foot great white shark named Mahone has been documented. This adult shark weighing over 1,700 pounds was initially tagged by the global nonprofit organization OCEARCH in October 2020 during their Nova Scotia expedition.
Mahone’s journey has been meticulously tracked by OCEARCH since it was tagged 695 days ago. The data collected reveals that the shark has traveled an astonishing 17,834 miles, venturing as far north as New Brunswick and as far south as Daytona Beach, Florida. In the last 24 hours alone, Mahone has covered a distance of 33 miles.
OCEARCH’s ongoing research has led to the launch of their 46th ocean expedition called “Expedition Southeast.” This expedition, set to conclude on December 15, focuses on studying mature white sharks as they migrate to the southeast United States for their winter residency. By examining these adult sharks, particularly females, during this time of year, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of their reproductive cycle and the importance of oceanographic features and diet resources in their overwintering area.
The nonprofit organization has already tagged a total of 92 white sharks in the western North Atlantic, contributing valuable data to 25 scientific projects. Their goal is to sample, tag, and release 100 sharks in the region, with just 8 more sharks left to reach this milestone.
OCEARCH’s dedication to studying and protecting these majestic creatures plays a vital role in unraveling the life history puzzle of white sharks in the western North Atlantic. As their research progresses, they continue to shed light on the behavior and movements of these apex predators, ensuring their conservation and the preservation of marine ecosystems.
