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Great white shark could reach UK waters after becoming only the second in history to be tracked crossing the Atlantic

Scientists believe there is a chance it could head to Britain -  Digital Vision/ Stephen Frink
Scientists believe there is a chance it could head to Britain - Digital Vision/ Stephen Frink

A great white shark could reach UK waters, scientists have said, as it becomes the second in history to be tracked crossing the Atlantic.

17-foot female shark Nukumi has taken a surprising route towards Europe from America, across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is hardly ever crossed.

The 50-year-old matriarch is the largest ever tagged in the region by scientists who are monitoring her, and it is believed she has taken a roundabout route because she is pregnant.

The only other great white shark to have ever been tracked making the crossing was one named Lydia, in April 2014, who travelled to the coast of Portugal.

This shark would not be the first interesting large predator to unexpectedly appear in our waters; over the last few years, warming seas and recovering fish stocks have lured the bluefin tuna back to British seas, and has been seen in unprecedented numbers off the South West coast.

Researchers have been excitedly watching the results of the tag placed in her dorsal fin, which "pings" a GPS location back to shark trackers at science organisation OCEARCH.

Her journey now means she is closer to the British coast than she is to America or Canada, where she began her trip. Trackers show that she swims around 44 miles a day, and her trip has taken her over 5,500 miles around the ocean.

Nukumi is now 1,700 nautical miles off British shores, and experts said this means she is capable of reaching the coast.

OCEARCH's chief scientist Dr. Bob Hueter said: "As of her last known location, Nukumi was still about 1,700 nautical miles from the UK.

"Now, that is less than her distance from the U.S. coast, so she is capable of reaching the UK coast.

"But we would not predict that she will do that, as white sharks are rare off the UK."

Now, it remains to be seen whether she turns back around to make a loop after giving birth away from the other sharks - or whether she will continue her journey to Europe.

Dr Hueter added: "If she does not turn back soon, she might go to offshore islands or seamounts in the eastern Atlantic, places like the Azores.

"Or perhaps she will head towards the opening into the Mediterranean Sea, as there are white sharks in the Med.

"But again, none of our other sharks have done that. All of this is speculation that awaits more tag locations.

"If she behaves like other sharks that have showed a similar pattern, she will make a turn and loop back into the western Atlantic.

"But we have only watched a few sharks do this, so we can't say for sure that Nukumi will follow the same migratory pattern until she gives us more locations from her satellite tag."

There are fears that Nukumi is in danger of being caught in fishing tackle, as the route she is taking is heavily fished.

The scientist said: "One concern we have is that there is major fishing activity out in the areas where she is traveling, with huge fleets of longliners fishing for other species.

"She is a massive white shark and could tear through a lot of fishing gear, but any interaction with hooks and lines could pose a severe risk to her survival."

Researchers believe the shark is feasting on deep-living prey such as squid and fish that live out in the open sea at depth. They also think she is pregnant, having mated off the U.S. coast and now heading away from the main population to gestate their young.

Because Nukumi is the largest Great White shark in the study, she could be showing scientists a brand new route, and they cannot predict with confidence where she will go. Whether she makes history and swims off our coast remains to be seen - but regardless, scientists will be glued to the tracker to see her carve out her remarkable route.