Juvenile Great White Filmed Off Block Island

The Atlantic Shark Institute captured clear GoPro BRUV footage of a juvenile female great white off Block Island — the first time a great white has been documented in Rhode Island waters using this technology. The encounter came during roughly four years of BRUV monitoring, which had previously recorded turtles, tuna and other sharks but not great whites until last week. Researchers believe the animal is likely a young-of-the-year, a useful data point for tracking population health as adult great whites are less common in Rhode Island waters. The video was widely shared on social media and drew public and media attention. The sighting coincided with increased white shark activity across New England — including multiple Cape Cod reports and satellite tracking of large tagged sharks like OCEARCH's Contender near popular East Coast beaches — underscoring the research value and the need for vigilance around swimming areas.