Despite a viral social media post claiming otherwise, the tagged great white shark “LeeBeth” has not returned to Texas waters. According to tracking data, LeeBeth’s satellite tag stopped transmitting off the coast of Nova Scotia in October 2024, and no acoustic pings or evidence confirm she’s back in the Gulf.
Still, her groundbreaking 2023 journey—being the first confirmed great white to travel so far west into the Gulf of Mexico—has stirred interest, speculation, and a growing fascination with these apex predators. While the LeeBeth rumor may be false, the truth is just as compelling: great white sharks are indeed showing up more frequently in the Gulf, and a new movement has emerged to understand and protect them.
That movement is the Gulf Great White Shark Society—a grassroots community launched to raise awareness and spark conversations about these mysterious, often misunderstood predators. Founded by award-winning wildlife journalist and Texas Fish & Game Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore, the society connects shark lovers, researchers, and advocates through media outreach, public events, and youth mentorship.
“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 in the region’s ecosystem,” said Moore, who also collaborates with numerous conservation outlets.
The society’s mission is fueled by passion and purpose: to inspire awe, respect, and action through education and hands-on engagement.
The official announcement of the Society came during the Great White Sharks in the Gulf event at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur, Texas, on the 50th anniversary weekend of Jaws. Over 350 people attended the premiere of the documentary Gulf Great White Sharks: Return of an Icon, which will debut online July 19, on the eve of Shark Week.
At the event, the Society presented three inaugural awards:
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Gulf Great White Shark Society Youth Award: Ericashea Borel, for her active advocacy for great white sharks.
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$500 Gulf Great White Shark Society Scholarship: Marina Wilson, a second-year college student majoring in marine sciences.
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Grassroots Award: Fortune Ford, recognized for pioneering a local fishing tournament’s switch to catch-and-release-only for sharks and her volunteer work for ocean wildlife.
Beyond shark awareness, the Society is an extension of Chester and Lisa Moore’s Wild Wishes® and Higher Calling Wildlife® programs—initiatives focused on bringing hope to hurting children through wildlife encounters.
“We’ve been working with kids in foster care, trafficking survivors, and critically ill children,” Moore said.
“Many of them love sharks, and now we’re going to the next level—offering them opportunities to write, create art, and take part in shark-focused activities, from cage diving at the Texas State Aquarium to shoreline conservation.”
With great whites slowly reclaiming a place in Gulf waters, the Gulf Great White Shark Society is ensuring the public learns not just the truth—but why it matters.
Follow their journey and get involved at www.gulfgreatwhites.com, and on Instagram at @gulfgreatwhitesharksociety