Danny, a 9-footer, was the last OCEARCH-tagged great white shark to ping off the Treasure Coast. He surfaced off Jupiter Island in February.
Great white shark caught on video in Gulf off Florida
FWC biologists captured video of a 7 and a half foot great white shark off Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife
Great white sharks migrate to the southern Atlantic waters during cold months for food.OCEARCH has tagged 126 great white sharks.Shark Week 2025 begins on July 20 on Discovery Channel.
On the Treasure Coast, you can find a variety of sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, and St. Lucie and St. Sebastian rivers. From time to time, even great white sharks make an appearance way off the coast.
During the colder fall and winter months, great whites from the North Atlantic migrate to the warmer waters of the South Atlantic to feed, mate and have babies.
Scroll to the bottom for information on Shark Week, including when it is and how to watch.
It would be nearly impossible to track the migrations of every one in the Atlantic, but OCEARCH has tagged 126 great white sharks, according to its online tracker. Here are two that have pinged so far this year:
Contender: A 13-foot, 9-incher off Indian River County northeast of Vero Beach on Feb. 23Danny: A 9-footer off Jupiter Island twice on Feb. 24
Here are some other frequent visitors to the Treasure Coast and the dates and locations they pinged in 2024:
Simon: A 9-footer off Stuart and Vero Beach on Jan. 17Rose: A 10-footer off Stuart on Feb. 17Breton: A 13-footer off South Hutchinson Island on July 3Penny: Off Amelia Island and Cocoa Beach before reaching Fort Pierce on Dec. 15Are there great white sharks in Florida?
Great white sharks migrate south when the water gets cold and food sources become scarce off the coasts of Atlantic Canada and the area around Cape Cod, New England, according to OCEARCH chief scientist Bob Hueter. These apex predators take advantage of the abundant seal populations and rich prey resources there.
What is OCEARCH?
OCEARCH is a nonprofit research organization that provides a platform for scientists to study the ocean’s giants. The group studies keystone species, including great white sharks, that are essential for the health of the oceans.
During expeditions, researchers collect previously unattainable data on the animals’ migrations, reproductive cycles, genetic status, diet, population and more.
Great white shark population
There’s no absolute data on the global population of white sharks and estimates vary widely — from 3,000 to over 10,000. According to NOAA Fisheries:
“The stock status for white shark populations in U.S. waters is unknown and no stock assessments have been completed. No stock assessments are currently planned in the Atlantic.””Research by NOAA Fisheries scientists indicates that abundance trends have been increasing in the Northwest Atlantic since regulations protecting them were first implemented in the 1990s.””According to a NOAA Fisheries status review and recent research, the northeastern Pacific white shark population appears to be increasing and is not at risk of becoming endangered in U.S. waters.”
When is Shark Week 2025?
Shark Week kicks off at 8 p.m. July 20 and ends at 9 p.m. July 26.
How can I watch Shark Week?
It airs on the Discovery Channel every night, beginning at 8 p.m., with three episodes a night, except July 26, when there will be only two.
 It’s also available to stream on Discovery+ with a subscription and on HBO Max.
Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene.