Local News
Named after the Stop & Shop robot, Marty is the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s first newly identified great white shark of the 2026 season.
Marty, the 10-foot great white shark off the coast of Cape Cod. Courtesy of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
A new Marty is roaming Cape Cod, but instead of rolling through Stop & Shop, this one is swimming off the coast.
The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy has identified its first new great white shark of the 2026 season and named it after the supermarket chain’s robot as part of Stop & Shop’s renewed partnership supporting shark research and conservation.
Stop & Shop is also celebrating with limited-edition White Shark Marty plush toys, with 20% of sales going to the conservancy.
Since researchers tagged the 10-foot great white shark on July 16, Marty has stuck around the upper Cape.
Her acoustic tag has pinged a receiver off North Truro 15 times, most recently at 5:32 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2. Every detection is documented on the conservancy’s free app, Sharktivity.
“Now that Marty has been tagged and identified, we expect she’ll quickly become a fan favorite as people follow her journey along the coast,” said Cynthia Wigren, CEO of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, in a statement.
Marty’s acoustic tag transmits a signal that is detected whenever she swims within range of one of the receivers positioned along the coast.
The data helps researchers study white shark behavior, movement, and population dynamics off Cape Cod. The work improves public safety and supports long-term conservation.
“We hope Marty sparks curiosity and inspires people across the region to learn more about these remarkable animals,” said Roger Wheeler, president of Stop & Shop, in a statement.
Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.
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