Massive Great White Pings Off Assateague Coast

ASSATEAGUE — A satellite tracker on a massive great white shark pinged just off the coast of Assateague early Thursday morning, becoming the latest tagged big shark to make its presence known in the resort area.

In September 2012, OCEARCH, a research organization that tracks the movements of big sharks all over the world, tagged a 16-foot, 3,500-pound-plus mature female great white off the coast of Cape Cod. The shark, named “Mary Lee,” was fitted with a satellite tag that allows researchers to track her movements, migration habits and feeding habits in order to gain a better understanding of the largely misunderstood creatures.

Since being tagged in September 2012, Mary Lee has traveled some 19,000-plus miles from the New England coast to the northern Caribbean and beyond. Early Thursday morning, the massive great white reportedly cruised by just off the coast of Assateague.

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