A 13-foot, 1,400-pound great white shark nicknamed Breton was tracked near Daytona Beach on July 25, puzzling the scientists who have followed him for nearly six years. While most great whites spend summer months feeding near Canada or Cape Cod, Breton has been moving south along Florida's Atlantic coast — the opposite direction from his peers.
Breton was first tagged on September 11, 2020, and researchers at the marine research nonprofit OCEARCH estimate he has covered more than 52,000 miles since then. His tracker sends a location signal whenever his dorsal fin breaks the surface long enough to transmit, allowing scientists to follow his unusual route in real time.
OCEARCH data scientist John Tyminki noted that the water temperatures where Breton is swimming — around 80 degrees Fahrenheit — are on the warm side for a great white. His working theory is that the shark is diving deeper to find cooler water and may be tracking seasonal schools of fish rather than following the seal populations that draw other great whites northward.
"Breton always surprises us," Tyminki said, adding that as a mature male the shark is providing researchers with behavioral patterns they haven't observed before. Scientists say they still don't fully understand what's driving his southward movement this season, but they're watching closely.
This story was originally reported by The Mirror.
