Great white shark swims against migration tide

Great white shark Breton is surprising scientists with an unconventional migration route this summer. While many sharks are heading north towards cooler Atlantic waters, Breton, a tagged adult white shark, has been tracked moving south along the eastern Florida coast. This area is significantly warmer than typical shark habitats during this season, with recent readings showing sea surface temperatures around 87 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scientists at OCEARCH, who have been tracking Breton since September 2020, suggest that the shark's movement into warmer surface waters may not be as concerning as it appears. They explain that white sharks are capable of deep dives, reaching much cooler depths where they can find suitable conditions. The unusual behavior is speculated to be driven by the pursuit of pelagic fish that school in large numbers off Florida's coast.

Breton's journey highlights the complex factors influencing white shark migrations, which are still not fully understood. OCEARCH continues to research and protect ocean life, using tagging technology to study migration habits and behaviors of sharks and other marine animals in real-time via their Global Shark Tracker.