Holidaymakers at Martha’s Vineyard, a celebrity-favored retreat, have been warned as Contender, the largest male great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic, was pinged just 50 miles off Nantucket, Massachusetts, on July 18, 2025. At 13 feet 9 inches and 1,653 pounds, this “ultimate ocean warrior” could be heading toward the upscale island, prompting caution among tourists. 🦈
A Massive Predator on the Move
Contender, a 30-year-old adult male great white, was tagged by OCEARCH, a nonprofit marine research group, on January 17, 2025, off the Florida-Georgia coast (web:1). Named after Contender Boats, a partner in OCEARCH’s research missions, the shark’s SPOT tag, attached to its dorsal fin, sends location pings when it surfaces, trackable via the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app (web:13). Since tagging, Contender has pinged over 40 times, traveling from Florida to the Outer Banks of North Carolina by June, and now nearing Nantucket Shoals (web:3). Dr. Harley Newton, OCEARCH’s Chief Scientist, told The Mirror that Contender may be heading to summer foraging grounds like Cape Cod or Nova Scotia (web:10).
Martha’s Vineyard in the Spotlight
Martha’s Vineyard, a haven for celebrities like Barack and Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, and Leonardo DiCaprio, draws affluent visitors each summer (web:1). Contender’s latest ping, 50 miles east of Nantucket, has raised concerns as great white shark activity peaks in New England during warmer months, driven by abundant seal populations (web:16). While Contender hasn’t pinged since July 18, suggesting he may have altered course, his presence underscores the region’s active shark season, with sightings reported since May (web:3).
Tracking for Science, Not Alarm
OCEARCH’s tagging, which required six researchers to attach the SPOT tag, provides data for up to five years, aiding studies on migration and reproduction (web:21). Contender, though the largest male tagged by OCEARCH, isn’t the biggest great white ever—some reach 20 feet (web:2). “His movements help us understand white shark behavior,” said OCEARCH’s John Tyminski (web:21). Posts on X, like those from @ABC6 and @Local12, highlight Contender’s size and proximity, urging beachgoers to stay vigilant (post:0,5). Shark season is normal in Massachusetts, and experts encourage using the OCEARCH tracker for awareness, not fear (web:13).
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