9-foot great white shark pings off Panama City, Florida coast just in time for spring break
There's a 9-foot 7-inch visitor in Florida Panhandle waters, just in time for spring break.
A great white shark nicknamed Keji and tagged by the research group OCEARCH pinged off the Panama City coast Saturday at 10:44 p.m.
Scientists placed a satellite tag on the shark's dorsal fin during its 2021 expedition in Canada. The tag sends location information to trackers when it breaks the surface of the water.
Keji has been hanging around Florida since November. His tracked pings show him southeast of St. Augustine on Nov. 30, near the Florida Keys on Dec. 13 off Marco Island's coast Feb. 4 and Feb. 16. He also swam to the Florida Panhandle in early 2023 and wintered around the Sunshine State in 2021 and 2022.
Here's what to know about Keji, OCEARCH and white sharks in Florida:
What we know about OCEARCH white shark Keji
Keji was tagged by OCEARCH near Ironbound Island Nova Scotia on Sep. 22, 2021. At the time, the male juvenile white shark measured 9 feet 7 inches and weighed in at 578 pounds.
Great white sharks can grow up to 20 feet long, but most are smaller with adult females averaging 15-16 feet and males 11-13 feet long.
Keji was named after the Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in the region where he was tagged, according to OCEARCH.
What is OCEARCH?
OCEARCH is a nonprofit organization researching the ocean's giants.
The group studies great white sharks and other keystone species essential for the health of the oceans.
OCEARCH recently finished up its 46th expedition, dubbed Expedition Southeast. It departed from Jacksonville on Nov. 17 and made its final docking in Morehead City, North Carolina on Dec. 15.
During the expeditions, researchers collected previously unattainable data on the animals' migrations, reproductive cycle, genetic status, diet, abundance, and more.
"If we lose the apex predator (sharks) then we lose all our fish and then there are no fish sandwiches for our grandchildren," OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer told the Courier Journal. "That's oversimplified, of course, but the idea is important because many shark species are threatened by overfishing and a demand for shark fins in Asia. Their dwindling numbers jeopardize ocean habitats."
Why are great white sharks in Florida?
White sharks swim south when the water gets too cold for them and they lack food sources up north, according to OCEARCH chief scientist Dr. Bob Hueter.
Think of them as the snowbirds of sharks.
Most of them tend to hang out away from the beaches in the continental shelf waters, Hueter said.
What to do if a shark attacks
National Geographic shares the following tips in case of a shark attack:
Fight: If attack is imminent, defend yourself with whatever weapons you can, advises the ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. "Avoid using your bare hands or feet if you can avoid it; if not, concentrate your blows against the shark's delicate eyes or gills." A shark's snout is also said to be sensitive.
Don't play dead: If a shark gets you in its mouth, says ISAF's George Burgess, "I advise to be as aggressively defensive as you are able. 'Playing dead' does not work. Pound the shark in any way possible. Try to claw at the eyes and gill openings, two very sensitive areas."
Control blood loss: If bitten, try to stop the bleeding. Leave the water as efficiently, calmly, and swiftly as possible. While many sharks will not bite again, you cannot rule out a second attack.
Get help: Get immediate medical attention, no matter how small the injury.
Most shark attacks happen in Florida
There were 69 documented unprovoked shark attacks around the globe in 2023. The U.S. led the world with 36 attacks and Florida again was the state with the most bites at 16.
Florida shark attacks by county:
Miami-Dade County: 1
Pinellas County: 1
While the U.S. has the most attacks, South Africa has the most shark-related fatalities.
Since 1992, there have been 1,232 shark bites worldwide, according to data from floridapanhandle.com, with white sharks credited as the top biters.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Great white shark, tagged by OCEARCH, pings off Panama City Saturday
