A 10-foot great white shark is spending spring break off the Gulf Coast in Sarasota, Florida.
The tagged juvenile female shark, nicknamed “Bella” by OCEARCH scientists, pinged twice near Sarasota:
When the satellite tag on the shark’s dorsal fin moves above the water’s surface, a ping with location information is sent to the OCEARCH tracker.
Bella was tagged in July 2025 near Nova Scotia, where North Atlantic white sharks are known to spend the summer.
Sharks begin their seasonal migration in the fall, usually from mid-October to November, from their summer feeding grounds around Atlantic Canada and New England and as far south as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to overwintering sites, presumably in search of warmer waters and stable food sources.
On January 1, Ernst, a 12-foot great white shark, was tagged by OCEARCH in Sarasota waters.
Here is information about Bella the Great White Shark and the Florida White Shark:
Bella, a 10-foot great white shark, swims in the bay near Sarasota, Florida
On July 18, 2025 at 4:48 pm, the Tuncoo Islands Marine Field Station team, in collaboration with the OCEARCH science and fishing team and Dr. Nigel Hussey of the University of Windsor, tagged, sampled, and released the great white shark Bella in Mahone Bay off Nova Scotia.
Bella was 10 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 729 pounds at the time.
In the 234 days since being tagged, Bella has traveled 4,219 miles.
Bella (meaning “beautiful” in Italian) was named in honor of “one of OCEARCH Florida’s biggest fans and supporters and represents the passionate global community that drives this important work,” her tracking page reads.
“Her story is a testament to the power of collaboration – from world-class scientists and fishermen to everyday ocean lovers.”
On July 18, 2025, OCEARCH scientists tagged and released a 10-foot-2-inch, 729-pound great white shark (nicknamed Bella) in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
What is OCEARCH? What does it do to great white sharks?
OCEARCH is a non-profit research organization that studies ocean giants.
The team studied key species critical to ocean health, including great white sharks.
“At OCEARCH, our mission is to solve the global white shark mystery. There are nine white shark populations around the world, and OCEARCH’s goal is to help regional scientists better understand the lives of white sharks in each population,” the organization’s website states.
“For more than 400 million years, great white sharks have roamed our oceans, fearing, admiring and misunderstanding. Today, the fearless crew and top scientists aboard M/V OCEARCH are uncovering their secrets and safely studying these behemoths in the harshest conditions. Together, we will replace fear with facts and solve the mysteries of great white sharks’ life histories.”
Jacksonville University has been the academic home of OCEARCH for nearly a decade. The group’s new headquarters facility is planned to be located in Mayport, Florida.
Are there great white sharks in Florida?
Yes. Great white sharks migrate south in the fall, mostly along the U.S. East Coast as far south as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
When do great white sharks appear in Florida waters?
According to OCEARCH, white sharks begin their seasonal migration in the fall, typically from mid-October to November, departing from summer feeding grounds around Atlantic Canada and New England and traveling as far south as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to overwintering sites, presumably in search of warm waters and stable food sources.
Cooling water temperatures and shorter daylight hours trigger migration.
How big is a great white shark?
Great white sharks are approximately 4 feet long at birth. They can grow to about 20 feet in length and weigh more than 4,000 pounds, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Biggest great white shark ever tagged by OCEARCH?
The largest great white shark ever tagged by OCEARCH is Nukumi, the “Queen of the Ocean.”
Nukumi was flagged for leaving Nova Scotia in 2020. Researchers estimate she is in her 50s. This giant shark was 17 feet 2 inches long and weighed 3,541 pounds.
According to her tracker, she traveled 5,635 miles in 191 days. Nukumi’s last sounding outside the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was on April 11, 2021.
OCEARCH The largest male great white shark ever tagged and released was the 13-foot-9-inch Contender.
The 1,653-pound shark was tagged in January 2025 in waters near the Florida-Georgia border.
Competitor’s tracking tag is active. His last ping was on December 14, 2025, in Jacksonville Shores.
What do great white sharks eat?
White sharks have a diverse diet that includes fish, invertebrates and marine mammals, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Juvenile white sharks eat primarily groundfish, smaller sharks and rays, schooling fish, and squid.
Larger white sharks often gather around colonies of seals and sea lions to hunt, and occasionally feed on dead whales.
How many great white sharks are there?
There are no absolute figures on the global population of white sharks, and estimates vary widely – from 3,000 to more than 10,000.
According to NOAA Fisheries:
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The status of white shark populations in U.S. waters is unknown, and a stock assessment has not yet been completed. There are currently no stock assessments planned in the Atlantic region.
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Research by NOAA Fisheries scientists shows that abundance trends in the Northwest Atlantic have been increasing since regulations to protect the Northwest Atlantic were first implemented in the 1990s.
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Northeast Pacific white shark populations appear to be increasing and are not at risk of extinction in U.S. waters, according to a NOAA Fisheries Status Review and recent research.
great white shark facts
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weight: Up to 4,500 lbs.
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length: Approximately 4 feet (at birth), up to 21 feet (adult)
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life: Over 70 years old
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threaten: Bycatch, habitat impact, overfishing. According to NOAA Fisheries, white sharks are a prohibited species (not allowed to be retained) in all U.S. waters and fisheries. There are no commercial fisheries for great white sharks, but they are occasionally caught as bycatch.
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area: Alaska, New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
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teeth: The great white shark has 300 teeth but does not chew food. Instead, they tear it into pieces and swallow it whole. Sharks have an endless supply of teeth, and lost teeth can be regenerated indefinitely.
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sight: According to OCEARCH, great white sharks can see clearly in low light, allowing them to hunt at dawn, dusk or in deep water.
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Additionally, white sharks can detect weak electrical signals emitted by organisms even under the sand. They also recognize changes in vibrations in the water, allowing them to find prey by sensing movement.
OCEARCH SHARK TRACKER: Track great white sharks in Florida and beyond
North Atlantic great white sharks migrate south to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico during the winter in search of warmer waters and greater food sources.
According to the organization’s website, OCEARCH is “a global nonprofit organization conducting unprecedented research on ocean giants to help scientists collect previously unavailable ocean data.”
OCEARCH has tagged 140 white sharks, many along the East Coast and Nova Scotia.
You can track their journey on the OCEARCH Shark Tracker website or by downloading the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app.
This article originally appeared in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Great white shark ‘Bella’ makes two calls in bay near Sarasota, Florida
