13-Foot, 1,500-Pound Great White Shark Pinged Near Outer Banks as It Migrates North for the Summer

This time of the year, whales and sharks migrate, and a massive great white is spotted on the coast of North Carolina. The 13-foot, 1,437 pounds great white shark was identified as Breton.

Massive Great White Shark Spotted on North Carolina Coast

OCEARCH, a marine science non-profit organization, has tracked the enormous sea creature since September 2020. Breton was pinged near Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks Tuesday morning, Fox News reported. The research group has followed the shark since tagging it off the coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.

The outlet noted that Breton was almost in the same spot this time last year. He made a trip to Bermuda last May, then traveled to Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence for the summer of 2022. Then it looped to the Bahamas in the fall and traveled up the East Coast again to the Outer Banks.

Breton is only one of the sharks that OCEARCH has been tracking off North and South Carolina coasts this month. They also detected a 9-foot great white named Simon just north of Breton Tuesday. Additionally, an 8-foot tiger shark, Georgia, was pinged off North Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. A 12-foot tiger shark, Jax, was also detected in North Charleston.

Sharks journey towards the cooler waters in the north for the summer. They hang out around the continental shelf, a shallow terrace extending off the coast of the Carolinas about 35 miles.

Tailless Gray Whale Spotted Off the Coast of Newport Beach

In a previous report from Science Times, a massive gray whale was also seen swimming off the coast of Newport Beach. It was migrating up the west coast of the United States.

It was called a "miracle" gray whale because its tail was missing. However, it could still swim and dive even without its flukes.

Tails are essential for whales because they use them in an up-and-down motion for powerful forward propulsion. According to Journey North, it is equivalent to a 500-horsepower engine.

Usually, whales travel at a speed of 4 mph, but the tailless gray whale was a little slower at three mph. There are speculations that it lost its tail due after being entangled in fishing gear.

Entanglement from fishing gear could cause injuries to whales as it could sew off their tail or cut off the circulation.

Why do Sharks, Whales Migrate?

Sharks and whales migrate every year for a reason. For instance, whale sharks migrate along the Gulf of Mexico and the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula, and the Caribbean between May and September, according to Slip Ins.

According to researchers, migration serves multiple purposes, including optimizing growth and foraging opportunities. Also, migration gives them breeding opportunities and access to potential birthing grounds.

Robert Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Laboratory, told National Geographic that female whale sharks undergo long migration to the middle of the ocean. They look for remote islands to give birth and keep their young safe because, in coastal zones, their babies are prone to predation.

Check out more news and information on Animals in Science Times.