Largest great white shark EVER resurfaces in Atlantic heading straight for tourist hotspot beaches

The largest great white shark ever recorded has resurfaced in the Atlantic Ocean, sparking fears the beast may be heading for popular tourist beaches this summer.

The 1,700lb (771kg) goliath disappeared from tracking for months after diving down into the depths in April.

The 14-foot great white - dubbed Contender - was first tagged by a team of scientists from Ocearch in January after being caught around 45 miles off the coast of Florida.

Researchers were able to track the giant's movements up America's coastline using a device fitted to the its fin.

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However, the shark seemingly vanished in April, with the last surface detected off North Carolina's Pamlico Sound.

But on Wednesday, Contender once again emerged from the deep, with scientists receiving a weak "Z-ping" - meaning its fin did not breach the surface for long enough to omit a powerful signal, according to Ocearch.

The weakness of the latest ping means that researchers are unable to pinpoint its exact whereabouts - but experts have warned the shark could be headed to the popular beaches of Cape Cod or Atlantic Canada, based on typical feeding habits.

An Ocearch spokesman said: “White sharks in the western North Atlantic typically migrate north and spend the summer and early fall foraging in the waters of Cape Cod or Atlantic Canada.

“These two regions offer comfortable water temperatures and an abundant food supply, in particular abundant seals and large fish species.”

The non-profit organisation added: “The Z-ping is a weak non-locational ping.

“It typically occurs when the shark’s fin-mounted tag is briefly at the surface and just one single message is received by an overhead Argos satellite.

“Normally three or more messages are needed during a single satellite pass to calculate a reliable location.”

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The research team were left stunned after taking measurements from the creature for the first time during its tagging.

Since then, Contender's movements have been closely tracked, with scientists noting an extraordinary journey undertaken by the giant.

The shark journeyed more than 7,000 miles, swimming from Florida and up to the Gulf of St Lawrence off the Canadian coast.

Ocearch previously released incredible footage of the initial capture, which show the shark's impressive size, jaws and piercing jet black eyes.

Its latest detection comes just months after scientists warned that great whites like Contender could soon roam the waters off Britain.

According to a study published in The Conversation blog, rising global ocean temperatures could make our seas an optimal habitat for these apex predators to thrive in.

Although there have long been rumours and sightings of great white sharks in British waters - particularly off the Cornish coat - no concrete proof has ever confirmed their presence.

The closest confirmed specimen to Britain came in 1977, when a female shark was caught off La Rochelle in the Bay of Biscay - 193 miles away from Land's End.

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