Huge Great White Shark Tracked From Nova Scotia To The Gulf Of Mexico, Off Louisiana Coast

KEY POINTS

Research group OCEARCH tracked the great white shark, named Unama'ki, from the northern Atlantic, near Nova Scotia, to the Gulf of Mexico
Unama'ki's trip reportedly lasted over a 100 days and ended in an area off the coast of Louisiana where great white sharks are not commonly seen
Researchers suspect she could end up off the coast of Texas and she could led researchers to an unknown shark nursery

One of the world’s largest great white sharks was tracked by researchers from the North Atlantic to an area in the Gulf of Mexico, where great white sharks are not commonly seen.

The shark, named Unama’ki, was tracked to the Gulf of Mexico by oceanic research group, OCEARCH. Her track began in the northern Atlantic, off the coast of Nova Scotia, and was tracked for over 100 days until she ended up off the coast of Louisiana.

OCEARCH on Monday shared the update on Twitter.

Wow look where white shark Unama’ki is! She has moved west of the Mississippi River in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s the first time we’ve tracked a white shark to this area off the coast of Louisiana. Is this a whole new piece to the white shark puzzle? pic.twitter.com/fUz2WmrN1q
— OCEARCH (@OCEARCH) February 24, 2020

Unama’ki is described as an adult female great white shark that OCEARCH has been tracking since September 2019. She measures 15-feet, 5-inches long and weighs 2,076 pounds, making her one of the largest great white sharks ever caught. She was tagged by OCEARCH and is the largest great white shark the research group is currently tracking.

OCEARCH said that while great white sharks in the Gulf are not uncommon, the specific area is uncommon for where Unama’ki ended up. The group also lacks data about great white movement in the Gulf of Mexico because they are not as numerous in the region as they are in the northern Atlantic Ocean.

Because of this, OCEARCH has only been able to speculate as to where Unama’ki could end up.

The group’s current theory is that she may end up somewhere near the coast of Texas. Given her size and age, researchers suspect her destination could be a hidden shark nursery so she can give birth.