Brookes, a juvenile female great white shark, was recently tracked off the Florida Panhandle near Mexico Beach and St. Joseph Peninsula. Tagged by the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station and OCEARCH in Nova Scotia, the 8-foot shark is following a seasonal migration pattern that moves between northern feeding grounds and warmer southern waters.
Where was Brookes the great white shark last spotted?
The shark pinged off the coast of the Florida Panhandle on Sunday. Tracking data placed her movement between Mexico Beach and St. Joseph Peninsula. This location follows a massive trek that saw the shark move from the Bay of Fundy, north of the Maine-Canada border, down the East Coast and around Florida into the Gulf of Mexico.
According to OCEARCH, Brookes has been making rapid movements. She has pinged on the OCEARCH shark tracker multiple times since July 1. Her current position indicates she is circling back up the coast after her time in the Gulf.
What are the physical characteristics of Brookes?
At the time of her tagging, Brookes measured 8 feet in length. According to data from OCEARCH, she weighed more than 450 pounds. She was tagged in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, in September 2025 by the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station in collaboration with OCEARCH.
The shark’s size and movement patterns are being monitored as part of ongoing research into juvenile great white shark behavior. Her ability to cover such vast distances at a young age provides researchers with data on how these predators navigate the Atlantic.
Why do great white sharks migrate along the Atlantic coast?
Great white sharks move north to reach productive feeding grounds during the summer and fall months. As the fall migration season ends, these sharks typically head toward warmer waters for the winter. These winter refuges are usually located off the Southeastern United States or in the Caribbean.
“The sharks’ incredible ability to travel long distances allows them to navigate vast ocean spaces efficiently, moving between productive feeding grounds and warmer winter refuges,” OCEARCH stated. This migration is a seasonal necessity to balance the need for food with the need for appropriate water temperatures.
How can you track shark migrations in real time?
Researchers and the public can monitor the movements of Brookes and more than 400 other ocean animals using the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app. OCEARCH is a global nonprofit organization that focuses on researching and protecting sharks, whales, sea turtles, and other marine life.
Real-time tracking allows scientists to observe how sharks respond to environmental changes and seasonal shifts. This data is critical for the protection of species that traverse international maritime borders.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of shark is Brookes?
Brookes is a juvenile female great white shark. - Who tracks Brookes’ movements?
She is tracked by OCEARCH and the Tancook Islands Marine Field Station. - Where do great white sharks go in the winter?
They typically move to warmer waters in the Caribbean or the Southeastern United States. - How big is Brookes?
She is approximately 8 feet long and weighs over 450 pounds.
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