Man Swims 60 Miles Around Martha’s Vineyard to Raise Global Awareness for Shark Conservation

A Swim Like No Other to Protect the Ocean's Apex Predators

 In a bold and historic feat of endurance, Lewis Pugh, a British-South African long-distance swimmer, has become the first person to swim around the island of Martha’s Vineyard, covering an astonishing 60 miles (97 kilometers) over the course of 12 days. His mission wasn’t merely athletic—it was deeply purposeful. Pugh undertook this grueling journey to draw global attention to the urgent need for shark conservation.

Changing the Narrative Around Sharks

Pugh's swim comes just ahead of the 50th anniversary of the iconic film Jaws, which, despite its cinematic acclaim, drastically altered public perception of sharks—casting them as fearsome predators rather than essential creatures of the marine ecosystem.

“We’ve been fighting sharks for 50 years,” Pugh stated after completing his final swim leg. “Now, we need to make peace with them.”

Pugh’s goal is to help shift the dialogue surrounding these often-misunderstood animals, encouraging the public to recognize their importance in maintaining ocean health and biodiversity.

Braving the Elements and Personal Limits

Starting on May 15, Pugh swam several hours each day in chilling waters averaging just 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8°C). Wearing only a swimsuit, swim cap, and goggles, he faced the dual challenge of icy temperatures and relentless wind and waves, all while swimming during the early phase of shark migration season.

The adverse weather proved to be the biggest hurdle. A powerful nor’easter dumped over 7 inches of rain on New England, flooding roads and severely impacting visibility and conditions in the water.

“It’s been a long journey—cold water, constant wind, unpredictable waves, and always the thought of what may be beneath me,” he reflected. “When you swim for 12 days, you leave as one person and return changed.”

Some days, Pugh was only able to swim half a mile before the conditions forced him to stop. On other days, he pushed harder, swimming multiple legs to make up for lost distance.

More Than a Swim—A Lifelong Mission

This wasn’t Pugh’s first extreme swim, but he considers it one of the most difficult of his 40-year career. His past accomplishments include swimming near glaciers, volcanoes, and through waters home to polar bears, hippos, and crocodiles. He was the first to swim across the North Pole and the first to complete long-distance swims in every ocean on Earth.

Now recognized as a United Nations Patron of the Oceans, Pugh often uses extreme swims as platforms for raising environmental awareness. This latest effort underscores the alarming rate at which sharks are being lost.

An estimated 274,000 sharks are killed each day globally, translating to nearly 100 million annually—a staggering number that Pugh describes as “ecocide.” He stresses that protecting sharks is one of the most crucial pieces in the puzzle of ocean conservation.

Safety Measures in a Shark’s Territory

Despite swimming in shark-inhabited waters, Pugh encountered no sharks during his journey. Nonetheless, precautions were taken. He was closely followed by a support team in a kayak and a boat. The kayak was equipped with a Shark Shield—a device that emits a mild electric field to deter sharks without harming them.

While there were no shark sightings, Pugh did spot sunfish, seals, and seabirds along the way, reminding him of the thriving marine life still clinging to survival in these waters.

Reflecting on the Power of One Swim

After completing his final 1.2 miles and emerging from the water near the iconic Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse—just steps from where Jaws was filmed—Pugh was met by cheering supporters. His first stop: a local ice cream shop, where he celebrated with a cone of salted caramel and berry brownie.

But the celebration was short-lived. Pugh knows that the real challenge lies ahead—spreading the message and influencing policy.

“Now the real hard work starts, which is getting this message to policy makers,” he said.

Pugh now heads to New York to continue advocating for shark protection, aiming to push marine conservation efforts higher up on global environmental agendas.

Why This Swim Matters

Beyond its physical demands, Lewis Pugh’s swim around Martha’s Vineyard represents a profound statement about the state of our oceans and the animals that inhabit them. As climate change, overfishing, and pollution threaten marine ecosystems, his message is urgent: We must act now to protect the creatures that keep the ocean in balance.

His journey is a call to action, not only for policymakers but for all of us, to rethink our relationship with the ocean and its misunderstood guardians—the sharks.