Second great white shark spotted near holiday hotspot and 'could get closer'

The iconic shark thriller Jaws was released 50 years ago this month – and now a real-life summer holiday destination faces not one but two great white sharks in its waters.

A 12-foot beast has been tracked lurking just off the coast of North Carolina, near the busy resort town of Nags Head. Scientists from non-profit marine research group OCEARCH have named the shark, thought to be a an adult male weighing 1,644lbs, Scot.

He was named Scot after the people of Nova Scotia, having been first spotted during an expedition into the region. He is likely to be heading for warmer waters to feed.

OCEARCH Data Scientist, John Tyminski told the Mirror that while Scot is currently some 43miles off the coast according to the latest ping, he could get closer. "White sharks like Scot, a mature male, typically stay well offshore during their northern migration," he said. "But as you can see from his past movement on Shark Tracker, he's capable of migrating more coastally at times.

"Once these white sharks reach their summer/fall residency areas, off either Cape Cod or Atlantic Canada, they can and will follow their prey into nearshore areas.

"For example, seals are an important food source for larger white sharks like Scot – and they are often associated with rocky shorelines and islands."

John added that great whites are much less picky eaters than scientists originally thought: "As we learn more about white shark diet, we're realising that they are more generalist feeders than previously thought and take advantage of whatever might be most abundant or available.

"Larger white sharks like Scot will take advantage of marine mammals like seals as they are abundant in the northeast and highly caloric.

"But they will also take advantage of schooling fishes (tunas, bluefish, mackerels), other sharks, squid, and scavenge on dead whales if the opportunity arises.”

Since he was tagged in September 2021 Scot has travelled just over 20,000 miles - that's an average of 14.6 miles per day.

He is the 74th white shark tagged, sampled, and released by OCEARCH in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, and he has got company in the waters off North Carolina.

Another huge great white, nicknamed Contender by researchers, is "making moves along the Atlantic coast, giving us more valuable data on the lives of white sharks in the Northwest Atlantic,” according to a social media post from OCEARCH.

Contender was tagged by OCEARCH experts in January, as he was swimming off the Florida-Georgia coast. Every time the shark’s dorsal fin breaks the surface, a signal is ping back to their mothership.

"Every ping helps us get one step closer to understanding and protecting these incredible animals," the researchers wrote on Facebook.

According to OCEARCH's shark tracker page, Contender weighs 1,653 pounds, and is estimated to be about 30 years old.

Scientists have warned the predator heading to a popular beach this summer is "possible" and advised beachgoers to use "common sense" when swimming.

Dr. Harley Newton, chief scientist and veterinarian for OCEARCH, from Jacksonville, Florida, has dedicated her career to studying shark behaviour and educating the public about these often misunderstood predators - including Contender.

She has revealed the surprising thing you should avoid wearing when swimming in the ocean - and what do to if you do come face to face with a predator.

Dr Newton's advice includes avoiding dawn and dusk swims, staying close to shore, always swimming with a buddy, and to avoid wearing shiny objects such as jewellery.

She added that you should always try to maintain visual contact if you spot a shark, backing away slowly while facing it.

While shark attacks are rare, she stresses that you should always try to remain aware of the ocean's dangers.

OCEARCH Data Scientist, John Tyminski, told The Mirror: "The chances of Contender going near a popular beach is fairly remote but it is possible.

"White sharks like Contender follow their natural sources of prey (schooling fish, seals, etc.). And if the conditions bring those food sources close to beaches, then that can draw the predators in close to take advantage of them. So we advise beachgoers to take a common sense approach when going for a swim."

The predator has already travelled a remarkable 1,870 miles since the beast was first tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH in January, 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville. It has since been spotted in Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, following a crucial feeding period, according to experts.

Dr. Newton added: "This is the first season we will be able to watch him migrate to a summer foraging area.

|Although there are many places in the Northeastern US and Canada where he could go, there are two primary locations where many white sharks spend the summer: Cape Cod, Massachusetts or Nova Scotia, Canada.

"Though Contender is an adult male white shark, and the largest we at OCEARCH have ever tagged and sampled in the Northwest Atlantic, but he is certainly not the largest male white shark ever caught."

She added: "Contender was 13 feet 9 inches total length and estimated to weigh 1653 lbs. But male white sharks can grow up to 18 feet.

"The adult age class animals have been more elusive than smaller, younger, age classes so we were excited to have the opportunity to tag, sample and release him.

Based on our Global Shark tracker, he has travelled 1870 miles to date from the place he was first tagged and released."