Where is Breton headed next? Massive great white shark moves farther offshore in the Atlantic
According to OCEARCH, Breton pinged about 315 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on Aug. 30.
FILE: Breton the white shark is tagged off coast of Nova Scotia
Video from Sept. 2020 shows OCEARCH tagging an adult male white shark named Breton. Breton weighed more than 1,400 pounds and was 13 feet long at his tagging.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Breton pinged about 315 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on Aug. 30.
- His SPOT tag has continued transmitting beyond its expected five-year lifespan.
- Breton appears to be continuing his journey farther out into the Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. — OCEARCH’s white shark Breton continues to defy expectations, outliving the expected lifespan of his SPOT tag as he heads farther offshore after spending much of the summer traveling along the East Coast.
According to OCEARCH, Breton pinged about 315 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, on Aug. 30.
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Tagged off Scatarie Island, Nova Scotia, in September 2020, Breton weighed approximately 1,437 pounds and measured 13 feet, 3 inches long at the time.
Breton the shark being released in 2020 after his evaluation and tagging. (OCEARCH / FOX Weather)
Since then, he has traveled more than 54,000 miles, according to OCEARCH. His SPOT tag has also continued transmitting beyond its expected five-year lifespan.
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Breton, one of the most closely followed sharks on OCEARCH’s tracker, spent July off the coast of Florida before moving north along the Carolinas in August, defying the typical summer migration pattern that usually sends white sharks north toward New England and Atlantic Canada.
His unusual movements have given researchers another example of just how unpredictable white shark migrations can be.
Breton's recent tracking. (OCEARCH)
OCEARCH Senior Data Scientist John Tyminski said, "sharks don't always follow the rulebook," adding that "Breton's unexpected journey reminds us that the factors driving white shark movements are complex, and we're still uncovering the secrets behind these remarkable migrations."
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Now, Breton appears to be continuing his journey farther out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Great white sharks can travel thousands of miles across vast stretches of ocean in search of food and move between different habitats.
Breton swims by the camera during his tagging in Sept. 2020. (OCEARCH / FOX Weather)
Tracking their movements helps researchers learn more about shark conservation while also providing valuable information about where sharks spend their time and helping scientists better understand their behavior.
For now, Breton’s journey continues, and where he travels next remains to be seen.
Breton and other sharks and sea animals like him can be tracked in real-time using the free OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app.