The Jacksonville coast recently became a temporary home to a remarkable marine visitor: a massive 13-foot great white shark named Breton. Weighing approximately 1,437 pounds, Breton was first tagged by the research group OCEARCH in 2020 during an expedition in Nova Scotia. His location is tracked through pings emitted when the tag on his dorsal fin breaks the water’s surface.
In a unique twist, Breton’s movements between September 2020 and January 2022 formed what resembled a “self-portrait” of a shark, with its tail near Nova Scotia and the head pointing towards Florida’s east coast. Breton has been a frequent visitor to Florida’s east coast, including recent visits in June and December 2022. Since his tagging, he has traveled over 33,382 miles.
Great white sharks, like Breton, tend to move south when the northern waters become too cold and food sources dwindle, often staying away from beaches in continental shelf waters. OCEARCH, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching ocean giants, has recently completed its 46th expedition, indicating a continued interest in these majestic creatures.
Despite their fearsome reputation, shark attacks are relatively rare. Globally, there are about 100 documented shark attacks each year, with Florida recording the most. However, South Africa has a higher number of shark-related fatalities. Since 1992, there have been over 1,200 shark bites globally, with great white sharks being the most common culprits.