AP PHOTOS: Athlete to attempt first-ever swim around Martha's Vineyard ahead of 'Jaws' anniversary
- British-South African endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh began an unprecedented swim around Martha's Vineyard on Friday, 2025, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the film 'Jaws' filmed there.
- Pugh took on this challenge following the announcement of an early-season white shark sighting near Nantucket by the New England Aquarium, with the goal of changing public perceptions influenced by the film’s negative depiction of sharks.
- He started from Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, swimming nearly four miles in 47-degree water without a wetsuit while accompanied by safety crews and using an electric Shark Shield device to deter sharks harmlessly.
- Pugh emphasized the importance of safeguarding marine life, stating that the well-being of humanity depends on it, and highlighted that approximately 100 million sharks are killed each year, calling for strong actions to effectively raise awareness about this issue.
- This swim aims to break the silence around sharks, promote their protection against threats like commercial fishing, and counter decades of fear and misunderstanding inspired by 'Jaws'.
209 Articles
209 Articles

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Athlete tries first-ever swim around Martha’s Vineyard near sharks, raising awareness about the endangered, maligned animals for ‘Jaws’ 50th anniversary
Pugh has followed an unspoken rule during his career as one of the world’s most daring endurance swimmers: Don’t talk about sharks. But he plans to break that this week on a swim around Martha’s Vineyard, where “ Jaws” was filmed 50 years ago.
Why is this athlete attempting historic swim ahead of the ‘Jaws’ 50th anniversary?
Lewis Pugh has followed an unspoken rule during his career as one of the world’s most daring endurance swimmers: Don’t talk about sharks. But he plans to break that this week on a swim around Martha’s Vineyard, where “Jaws” was filmed 50 years ago.
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