Martha Vineyard swimmer Pugh hopes to flip shark narrative

(NewsNation) — British swimmer Lewis Pugh recently completed a 12-day, 62-mile trek of the waters surrounding Martha's Vineyard that took place ahead of the 50th anniversary of the release of 'Jaws.'
The timing of the feat was intentional on Pugh's part, who hopes to change the perception of sharks by swimming in the waters where the Oscar-winning motion picture was filmed in 1975.
Pugh became the first person to swim the entirety of the area around Martha's Vineyard and did so to raise awareness about the need for increased protection for sharks.
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Doing so is essential, Pugh said, adding that predators like sharks are essential to creating a healthy oceanic environment.
'They keep the ocean in balance, and now is the time to try and change the narrative for a new generation,' Pugh told NewsNation. 'Sharks aren't monsters. They are magnificent, they're essential, and they're seriously endangered.'
Pugh said that 274,000 sharks are killed each day around the world, which equates to more than 100 million sharks being killed each year, which he calls 'complete madness.'
The number of sharks killed each year compares to only 10 humans being killed by sharks each year. In 2024, 88 reported shark-human interactions were reported worldwide, while 47 unprovoked shark bites were reported last year.
Pugh, 55, has been swimming for nearly 40 years, but told NewsNation that he had never accomplished the kind of physical task required over the 24 hours he spent swimming around Martha's Vineyard over 12 days.
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He said that the release of 'Jaws' in 1975 has shaped the narrative of how sharks are perceived, making the timing of his accomplishment even more significant, he said. Pugh's mission was simple: to flip the script on how sharks are perceived and to share his conviction that swimmers should not fear the ocean.
'I can honestly say it was one of the toughest swims of my life,' Pugh said. 'It was the cold, it was the distance and then just the constant thought of what may be beneath me.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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