Great white sharks tend to approach the shore in Florida during spring and summer, with numbers peaking between April and October, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The US recorded the highest number of unprovoked shark attacks in 2022, with 41 incidents, almost five times more than those reported in Australia. OCEARCH has tagged, sampled, and released 74 great white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, including the male shark named Scot, which was first spotted in Canada in September 2021. Female great white sharks are typically larger than their male counterparts and can grow up to 16ft, with some reaching an astounding 20ft. Swimmers visiting Florida’s waters are advised to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings, understand the relative risks, and be educated on shark behavior, biology, and fisheries.
A 12ft-long great white shark, named Scot, has been spotted in Key West, Florida, according to OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker. The sighting of the marine predator has raised concerns about the safety of beachgoers during the popular spring break season in Florida. Over half a million college students visited the Sunshine State in 2022, with at least 16 beachgoers bitten in shark attacks that same year. OCEARCH is a global non-profit organization that conducts extensive research on the ocean’s giants to help scientists gather valuable data. The company has tracked Scot, a mature male shark that they met in Nova Scotia in September 2021, for over 10,000 miles since. Another gigantic 11ft great white shark, Maple, was tracked by OCEARCH earlier in March, off the coast of St George Island, Florida, with a bite mark likely coming from an even larger shark. Several other great white sharks have also been spotted off the Gulf Coast of Florida in recent months. Keji, a 9ft 7in-long shark weighing 578 pounds, was tracked near Sarasota on February 28, while Sable, a 10ft 6in-long shark weighing 807 pounds, was spotted near the Panhandle on January 27. The Florida Insider reports that Florida witnessed over half a million college students during the spring break in 2022, and at least 16 beachgoers were bitten in shark attacks during the same year.
As per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), great white sharks tend to approach the shore during spring and summer, with their numbers peaking in Florida between April and October. Brent Winner, a scientist for FWC, advised swimmers to exercise caution before entering the waters, stating the importance of being aware of their surroundings, understanding the relative risks, and being educated on shark behavior, biology, and fisheries. It is worth noting that in 2022, the US recorded the highest number of unprovoked shark attacks, totaling 41 incidents, which is almost five times more than those reported in Australia.
Scot, the monstrous 12ft-long great white shark, was first spotted off the West Ironbound Island in Canada on September 8, 2021. The male shark was named after the people of Nova Scotia by OCEARCH partner, SeaWorld, who christened him as a tribute to the locals’ commitment to ocean health and science. OCEARCH has tagged, sampled, and released 74 great white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, including Scot. According to the organization, female great white sharks are typically larger than their male counterparts and can grow up to 16ft, with some reaching an astounding 20ft.
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