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Lewis Pugh Begins Historic 62-Mile Swim Around Martha’s Vineyard to Advocate for Shark Conservation

Marking the 50th anniversary of 'Jaws,' Pugh's unprecedented swim aims to reshape perceptions of sharks and highlight their ecological importance.

Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh gestures to where he will begin his swim around Martha's Vineyard island, which is expected to take 12 days, near the Edgartown Lighthouse, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A visitor arrives at a shop selling Jaws-related souvenirs, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A shopper walks past items featuring the Jaws movie at Neptune's Sea Chest gift shop, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Vineyard Haven, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard Island. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A family walks to the span of the American Legion Memorial Bridge, also known as the "Jaws Bridge", while spending the day fishing, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard Island. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Overview

  • Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh has started the first-ever uncaged, 62-mile circumnavigation of Martha's Vineyard, expected to take 12 days.
  • The swim coincides with the 50th anniversary of the film 'Jaws,' which Pugh says contributed to widespread fear and misunderstanding of sharks.
  • Pugh, 55, is swimming without a wetsuit in cold waters, using only trunks, a cap, goggles, and a Shark Shield device for safety.
  • The effort launches a three-year global campaign to engage one billion people and push for stronger marine protections ahead of a key UN ocean conference in June.
  • With 100 million sharks killed annually, Pugh emphasizes their critical role in maintaining ocean ecosystems and calls for an end to overfishing and shark finning.