Lewis Pugh Completes Historic 62-Mile Swim Around Martha’s Vineyard to Highlight Shark Conservation

Lewis Pugh, a 55-year-old British-South African endurance swimmer, completed the first-ever swim around Martha’s Vineyard, covering 60 miles over 12 days in 47-degree water to raise awareness about shark conservation ahead of the 50th anniversary of the film "Jaws." Pugh aims to change public perception of sharks, which he believes were unfairly depicted as villains and cold-blooded killers by the movie, and to advocate for their protection amid growing threats to their survival. Despite difficult weather conditions and challenges such as cold temperatures and shark migration season, Pugh completed about 24 hours of swimming, finishing near the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, a filming location for "Jaws." He emphasized the need to reconcile with sharks after decades of fear and conflict, highlighting the alarming rate of shark deaths due to fishing. Pugh, who has a nearly 40-year career of extreme swims including crossing the North Pole and swimming in all the world’s oceans, called shark protection critical to ocean health. His swim not only marked a physical feat but also symbolized a call to end the negative portrayal of sharks and promote conservation efforts.