Ton of White Shark pinged in GoM

DESTIN, Fla. – A 2,076-pound Great White shark, by the name of Unama’ki, that was tagged by the research non-profit OCEARCH has pinged Feb. 1 about 100 miles offshore of Northwest Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. OCEARCH’s website has been tracking 11 white sharks that were tagged in Nova Scotia in the fall 2019. Unama’ki is one of the largest and tagged at 15 feet, 5 inches long, according to OCEARCH. She has traveled more than 2,000 miles from Canadian waters. Researchers are hoping to gain insight into the breeding habits of Great Whites. “As a big mature female, Unama’ki has the potential to lead us to the site where she gives birth and exposes a new white shark nursery,” OCEARCH’s website reads. Three other Great Whites tagged by OCEARCH have also pinged in the GoM – Helena, a 1,314-pound female; Nova, a 1,186-pound male; and Brunswick, a male, weighing 431 pounds, are swimming around the Florida Keys. (Source: USA TODAY 02/05/20)