A massive great white shark, named Breton, has been tracked by scientists since 2020 and his unexpected migration pattern has challenged assumptions about where the creatures live and feed
The huge great white shark has been tracked by scientists for five years
A colossal great white shark, being monitored by scientists, is following a ‘new’ migration path that challenges long-standing scientific beliefs about where these creatures reside and feed, and it’s heading toward a major tourist hotspot
The 14ft monster, named Breton, was tagged in September 2020 by marine research organisation OCEARCH, which aimed to discover the mating grounds of great whites.
Breton surfaced off Cape Hatteras in North Carolina on December 28, sending a ‘ping’ to the scientists tracking his every move. He’s been progressively heading further south toward the east coast of Florida. This follows a ping in Daytona Beach, Florida in January 2025 and another off Nova Scotia in Canada in 2020.
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Breton most recently surfaced near North Carolina
This data suggests that instead of travelling along the north-eastern U.S. coast – where it’s assumed great whites gather to feast on seals – he ventured far offshore. This behaviour contradicts decades of research and OCEARCH states it has “completely flipped upside down” previous assumptions about East Coast great white distribution.
This could potentially be a breakthrough in understanding shark reproduction – Breton’s winter location might reveal where and when great white sharks congregate to mate, a mystery that has baffled scientists for years.
Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH, said: “When he migrates down south and north, he often loops way offshore and does not go along any portion of the north-eastern United States.
Breton is progressively heading further south toward Florida
“We’re seeing more and more of these animals that are in the south-eastern United States are just not part of the white sharks that go to New England or the north-eastern US.
“As we move into the middle of the winter and we start heading into the late winter and early spring, it’ll be very interesting to see where Breton is located.
“That could be a tip toward where big mature animals are coming together to potentially give us clues on their reproductive cycle.”
Fischer disclosed that their research has “completely flipped upside down” what scientists previously believed about shark distribution patterns.
“Atlantic Canada is the primary summer and fall range of our white shark population off the East Coast of the United States,” he explained.
It’s believed that Breton now measures more than 14ft
The enormous predator spends winter and spring months in the south-eastern United States before making the journey to Atlantic Canada during summer and autumn, completely avoiding the conventional New England feeding areas.
Being a large, fully-grown male, Breton serves as a perfect candidate for examining how these top predators congregate for mating purposes.
Fischer shared his excitement about the potential scientific discoveries Breton might unlock, especially concerning the enigmatic elements of great white shark breeding that have baffled marine scientists for years.
“Hopefully, he’ll be giving us a tip, and we’ll see his track colliding with other mature males and mature females in the same region in the coming months,” Fischer said. “That would be an enormous piece of data to be able to gather. So time will tell.”
When Breton was initially tagged, he measured 13ft 3in and weighed over 1,400 pounds.
“We’re looking at it five years later now, probably looking at a 14-foot-plus animal that’s put on a lot of weight as a big, mature male,” said Fischer.