Gulf Great White Shark Society Founded
United States, 19th Jul 2025 – A new grassroots community has launched along the Gulf Coast to build awareness and spark conversation about the region’s most mysterious and misunderstood ocean predator: the great white shark.
The Gulf Great White Shark Society, founded by award-winning wildlife journalist and Texas Fish & Game Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore, brings together shark lovers, scientists, and advocates to shine a light on these apex predators that are making a notable return to Gulf waters. Through media outreach, public events, and youth mentorship, the Society aims to inspire awe, respect, and conservation action.
“This is about highlighting the return of great white sharks in the Gulf and connecting people, especially young people, to the importance of them and other large sharks to the Gulf’s ecosystem,” said Moore.
“Through media, youth mentorship, and community events, we want to inspire awe and respect for these animals.”
Long considered a rare or even mythical presence in the Gulf, the great white shark has recently emerged as a verifiable inhabitant of these waters. One of the earliest and most compelling pieces of evidence came in 2005, when charter captain Ryan Warhola made a startling discovery near Sabine Pass, about 68 nautical miles offshore.
“We were fishing near a rig I know well,” Warhola said. “The rig workers were all pointing at something in the water. Then I saw this massive shadow pass under the boat. When it rolled slightly through the chum slick, I saw the teeth—triangle shaped, not curved like a mako’s. I immediately called Chester.”
That sighting, later confirmed by Moore to be a great white, was the beginning of nearly two decades of research and public outreach that culminated in the formation of the Society. Since then, sightings have increased, and tracking technology has revealed that sharks like LeeBeth, tagged off South Carolina, have migrated as far as South Padre Island, solidifying what many locals and scientists suspected all along.
The Society was officially announced at the Great White Sharks in the Gulf event at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur, Texas—appropriately held on the 50th anniversary of Jaws. More than 350 attendees gathered for the premiere of the new documentary, Gulf Great White Sharks: Return of an Icon.
Even before its official launch, the Society earned statewide recognition when its website, www.gulfgreatwhites.com, was named “Best Outdoors Website” by the Texas Outdoor Writers Association.
The Society also awarded three standout contributors:
● Gulf Great White Shark Society Youth Award: Ericashea Borel for her advocacy work.
● $500 Scholarship: Marina Wilson, a marine science student entering her second year of college.
● Grassroots Award: Fortune Ford, for pioneering catch-and-release shark practices in major tournaments.
Chester and his wife Lisa also run Wild Wishes® and Higher Calling Wildlife®, programs aimed at bringing hope to children facing special challenges through wildlife experiences—including shark diving and educational outreach. The Society will amplify these efforts by reaching even more youth from Texas to Florida and beyond, with mentorship opportunities, shark conservation art projects, and educational gift boxes that include shark books, artwork, and trackers.
“This will help us increase our work with the hurting kids out there who love sharks,” Moore said. “Conservation starts with love, and love begins with awe.”
Follow the Gulf Great White Shark Society on Instagram at @gulfgreatwhitesharksociety
Media Contact
Organization: Gulf Great White Shark Society
Contact Person: Chester Moore
Website: https://gulfgreatwhites.com/
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Release Id: 19072531085