An enormous 1,400-pound, 13-foot great white shark has been detected prowling the waters off Florida's coastline with authorities warning beachgoers to be on the lookout for the fish.
The shark, nicknamed 'Breton,' surfaced an astonishing four times in a single day near Daytona Beach.
According to data from OSEARCH, a globally renowned nonprofit dedicated to marine research, Breton first pinged his presence on Wednesday morning at 10:51am, but it was Thursday's flurry of activity that set researchers and locals abuzz.
At 12:37pm, Breton's tracking device recorded a 'ping' near the beach, followed by subsequent appearances at 3:55pm, 5:30pm before a final ping at 6:49pm.
The shark's tag, a sophisticated tracking device affixed to his dorsal fin, indicates his movements every time he surfaces, providing a rare and chilling glimpse into the habits of these ocean predators.
Breton's fin was tagged during OSEARCH's 2020 Nova Scotia expedition with the hulking predator named after Cape Breton, where scientists first encountered him.
Over the past four-and-a-half years, Breton has become a legend among researchers, logging an astonishing 41,000 miles in his odyssey through the Atlantic.
His recent trajectory is no less impressive: within the last 72 hours alone, Breton has covered nearly 139 miles, moving westward towards the coastline.
After departing the icy waters of Newfoundland in November, Breton began his southern journey, presumably drawn by Florida's balmy seas and abundant prey.
His most recent recorded location places him near the Blake Plateau, a deep-sea area teeming with marine life and offering the perfect hunting grounds for a predator of his caliber.
Great white sharks, often misunderstood and feared, are apex predators critical to marine ecosystems.
Yet their presence near popular beaches underscores the delicate balance between human activity and the natural world.
Marine researchers, speaking with Fox 35 Orlando, explained how North Atlantic great white sharks migrate seasonally, leaving their cooler summer feeding grounds in search of warmer waters and richer food sources.
But Breton's unusual activity - a series of four pings so close to the shore - raises questions about his behavior with researchers wondering if it is an anomaly, or a sign of shifting patterns.
Breton was the first great white tagged during the Nova Scotia expedition and he has become a symbol of OSEARCH's mission to unlock the mysteries of these ocean predators.
His tagging, along with four others at Scatarie Island has revealed invaluable insights into great white behavior and migration.
Read more 2025-01-13T00:05:35Z