'Most followed' shark pings off South Carolina coast as tag continues to defy lifespan
Breton has traveled a staggering 52,577 miles since researchers began tracking him nearly six years ago.
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.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.— Breton, the "most followed shark" on OCEARCH's tracker, has registered a new location update approximately 110 miles southeast of Myrtle Beach on June 30.
The massive great white shark has now traveled a staggering 52,577 miles since researchers began tracking him nearly six years ago.
Breton the shark being released in 2020 after his evaluation and tagging.
(OCEARCH / FOX Weather)
He was originally tagged in September 2020 off Scatarie Island, Nova Scotia, measuring an impressive 13 feet, 3 inches long and weighing 1,437 pounds.
OCEARCH uses SPOT tags to gain vital information on the species and their migration patterns to better understand the ocean and conservation efforts.
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The SPOT tags used on sharks last approximately five years, which Breton has certainly surpassed.
Breton's tracking throughout the North Atlantic.
(OCEARCH)
When Breton sent a ping off the coast of Port St. Lucie, Florida, back in April, OCEARCH took to Facebook emphasizing the longevity of his tag.
"Tagged in 2020, his SPOT tag is still transmitting well beyond its typical lifespan, continuing to give us valuable insight into how white sharks use the open ocean," the organization wrote.
Breton swims by the camera during his tagging in Sept. 2020.
(OCEARCH / FOX Weather)
Breton and other sharks and sea animals like him can be tracked in real-time using the free OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app.