1,400-pound, 13-foot great white shark pings off Florida beach 3 times in 1 day, officials say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Officials said a 1,400-pound, 13-foot great white shark was pinged off a Florida beach three times in one day.

OCEARCH data shows the massive shark, named Breton, surfaced off Florida's east coast three times Jan. 9, and for the fifth time since Sunday.

Breton, a 13-foot and 1,400-pound shark, was first tagged by OCEARCH in 2020. (Credit: OCEARCH)

Breton's latest vacation hot spots

What We Know: OCEARCH data reports Breton was pinged off Daytona Beach three times Thursday. He was pinged at 10:51 a.m., 12:37 p.m. and 6:49 p.m.

Officials said Breton also pinged at 10:51 a.m. Jan. 8 off Palm Coast, after previously surfacing Jan. 5 off Jacksonville.

According to the tracker, Breton left the coast of Newfoundland in early November, before traveling along the East Coast towards the Sunshine State.

What They're Saying: Breton's latest travels are not quite unique.

OCEARCH researchers said North Atlantic great white sharks often leave their summer feeding grounds in search of warmer waters and more abundant food sources.

Data shows the sharks typically travel off Atlantic Canada and New England, along the East Coast, and as far south as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

Who is Breton?

By The Numbers: OCEARCH data shows Breton, a male shark, measures about 13 feet and 3 inches long, and he weighs about 1,437 pounds.

In the last 72 hours, Breton has traveled about 129 miles, researchers said. In the last 1,581 days, he has traveled about 41,088 miles.

Background: OCEARCH shared Breton was the first shark tagged during the organization's Expedition Nova Scotia in 2020.

Researchers said Breton is named after the people of Cape Breton, where he was tagged. The shark's name was chosen by one of the organization's partners: SeaWorld.

Breton was the fifth shark OCEARCH tagged at Scatarie Island in two years of working in the area, providing evidence the region could offer predictable access to great white sharks, officials stated.

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What is a ping?

A ping refers to the satellite tag that is attached by OCEARCH researchers to a shark's dorsal fin. The ping moves above the water's surface and sends location information to trackers.

The ping helps provide an update on a shark's position on the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker map. This then allows researchers and the public to follow the shark's movements in near real-time.

What is OCEARCH?

OCEARCH is a global nonprofit organization that conducts research on the ocean's giants to help scientists collect data. The organization's mission is to accelerate the ocean's return to balance and abundance through innovations in scientific research, education, outreach and policy.

To learn more about OCEARCH, click here.

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