VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A great White Shark pup weighing more than 700 pounds was just seen about 30 miles off the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

13News Now spoke with the founder of the research organization OCEARCH, which has been tagging the sharks, about why they're vital to the ocean's future.

OCEARCH's founder, Chris Fischer, said in 2006, the great white shark population had shrunk to just 9%.

He said the survival of the iconic apex predator is vital to avoid severe complications in the ecosystem in future generations.

“We’re seeing ecosystems collapse, and we’re like, we need to help the great white sharks, and we’re like, well, we have no idea how to help them. We don’t know where they are, or what they’re doing where they are," said Fischer.

Fischer said over-harvesting of great w

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