First White Shark Encounter with OCEARCH Founder

In 2017, OCEARCH Founder Chris Fischer and the research team tagged a mature male white shark off the coast of South Carolina. They named him Hilton. More than just a name, Hilton marked a turning point for white shark research.

He was the first shark to give the team a viable sperm sample—a critical breakthrough that opened a new window into understanding white shark reproduction. But Hilton didn’t stop there. His journey north led the team to Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, revealing new summer residency data and providing the first strong clues that this region might serve as a key mating ground for the species.

Hilton’s movements helped push the northern boundary of known white shark range and shifted the OCEARCH team’s research focus to Nova Scotia—years before it became widely known as a white shark hotspot. His data helped rewrite what science thought it knew about the North Atlantic’s top predator.

Now it’s your turn to have a first shark moment.

The “Meet A Shark” Sweepstakes closes on July 31. One winner will get to witness white shark research in action and meet their first shark alongside the OCEARCH team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with a species that continues to shape the ocean and inspire scientific breakthroughs.

Enter at meetashark.com

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OCEARCH is a global non-profit organization conducting unprecedented research on our oceans’ Sharks in order to help scientists collect previously unattainable data in the ocean. Our mission is to accelerate the ocean’s return to balance and abundance through fearless innovations in critical scientific research, education, outreach, and policy using unique collaborations of individuals and organizations in the U.S and abroad.

Follow along with the shark tracker: https://www.ocearch.org/tracker/

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