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Great white sharks appear to be arriving in the waters around Florida just in time for spring break.
Two of the sharks were tracked in the water off the Florida panhandle on March 5, according ocean research organization OCEARCH, which follows the elusive species to learn more about them.
One shark, named Keji, was tracked in the state's northwestern waters on Tuesday and it has been hanging around since the weekend. It was tagged by OCEARCH in 2021 and measures 9 feet 7 inches, weighing 578 pounds.
Another great white, named Rose, was in a similar area on March 5. She was first tagged in 2020, and when measured reached 10 feet 5 inches and weighed 600 pounds.
Other white sharks have been tracked in Florida in recent weeks. Scot, a giant shark measuring 12.3 feet and weighing a huge 1,644 pounds, was tracked swimming around the Florida Keys on February 28.
Bob, another large shark measuring 13 feet and 4 inches, and weighing in at 1,308 pounds, was tracked just off the coast of Palm Coast on February 29.
OCEARCH trackers only "ping" when the shark gets close to the surface of the water, meaning these sharks could still be in the area.
This population of great white sharks migrates north to Canada for the summer months, before heading back down the East Coast towards Florida for the winter.
Great whites are a solitary species and don't travel in groups, but due to their migration patterns, it's not uncommon for many to be in the same place at once.
Although spring break is taking place, and these sharks are in the water around the state, they pose very little danger to humans.
While Florida does see the highest amount of shark attacks in the U.S, according to the Shark Attack File, incidents remain relatively rare. The giant fish are rarely seen in the water at the same time as humans.
However, the sharks are known for being aggressive and are part of the "big three," alongside tiger and bull sharks. These three sharks are the species most known for attacking humans.
Attacks are usually a case of mistaken identity, as the sharks don't hunt humans.
Although great white sharks widely feared by humans, scientists still know very little about the species. This is why OCEARCH tags and tracks them, seeking to monitor where they go and why.
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About the writer
Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more