MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Mass. (AP) — An athlete aims to be the first person to swim around Martha’s Vineyard to educate the public on sharks.
Lewis Pugh is attempting the swim in 47-degree (8-degree Celsius) water during the start of white shark migration season.
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Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh walks towards the Edgartown lighthouse, which will be the starting point for his 12-day swim around Martha's Vineyard island, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A man navigates the wake behind the Martha's Vineyard Ferry, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Vineyard Haven, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Socks featuring the Jaws movie are displayed at Neptune's Sea Chest gift shop, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Vineyard Haven, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard Island. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh looks out at Edgartown Harbor, the ending point for his swim around Martha's Vineyard island, which is expected to take 12 days, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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)
Audrey Constant, of Marshfield, Mass., is wrapped in a towel featuring the "Jaws" movie, while walking on a beach that was used as a filming location for the film five decades ago, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard Island. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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)
Fish tails hang on a fisherman's shack in Menemsha Harbor, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Young fishermen watch the Chappaquiddick ferries, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A woman views the sunset at Menemsha Beach, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Visitors ride bikes on the street used for a Fourth of July parade in the movie "Jaws," Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Sharks decorate the Menemsha Fish Market, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A visitor arrives at a shop selling Jaws-related souvenirs, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A shark cutout is used for a sign at the Menemsha Fish Market, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A sculpture of a fishermen harpooning a swordfish stands near Menemsha Beach, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Kayaker Nicholas Burden guides endurance swimmer Louis Pugh as a fishing boat passes by, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh warms up on the ride back to shore after completing the first leg of his swim around Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh pauses to rehydrate during the first day of his swim around Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Seals watch endurance swimmer Louis Pugh near the Cape Poge Lighthouse, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh answers questions about his planned swim while chatting with visitors to Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh prepares for his swim, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh chats with visitors to Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
An instrument that sends an electronic signal into the water to ward off sharks is attached to a kayak near endurance swimmer Louis Pugh, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh fist bumps a beach-goer before entering the water to begin his swim around Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh swims near the Edgartown Harbor Light, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
An app is used to monitor endurance swimmer Louis Pugh's temperature while he swims in 47 degree F water, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh swims off the coast pf Edgartown, Mass., Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The swim is planned to correspond with the 50th anniversary of “Jaws.” The 55-year-old swimmer is specifically taking on the challenge because he wants to change public perception of the vulnerable animals. He says they were maligned by the 1975 blockbuster film as “cold-blooded killers.” He’ll urge for more protections for the animals while he completes the 62-mile (100-kilometer) swim in about 12 days.
He began the journey just after the New England Aquarium confirmed the first white shark sighting of the season, earlier this week off the coast of Nantucket.
Read more about Pugh's historic swim and watch a livestream of him entering the water here.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh walks towards the Edgartown lighthouse, which will be the starting point for his 12-day swim around Martha's Vineyard island, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
A man navigates the wake behind the Martha's Vineyard Ferry, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Vineyard Haven, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Socks featuring the Jaws movie are displayed at Neptune's Sea Chest gift shop, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Vineyard Haven, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard Island. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh looks out at Edgartown Harbor, the ending point for his swim around Martha's Vineyard island, which is expected to take 12 days, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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)
Audrey Constant, of Marshfield, Mass., is wrapped in a towel featuring the "Jaws" movie, while walking on a beach that was used as a filming location for the film five decades ago, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard Island. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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)
Fish tails hang on a fisherman's shack in Menemsha Harbor, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Young fishermen watch the Chappaquiddick ferries, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A woman views the sunset at Menemsha Beach, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Visitors ride bikes on the street used for a Fourth of July parade in the movie "Jaws," Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Sharks decorate the Menemsha Fish Market, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A visitor arrives at a shop selling Jaws-related souvenirs, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A shark cutout is used for a sign at the Menemsha Fish Market, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A sculpture of a fishermen harpooning a swordfish stands near Menemsha Beach, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Chilmark, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Kayaker Nicholas Burden guides endurance swimmer Louis Pugh as a fishing boat passes by, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh warms up on the ride back to shore after completing the first leg of his swim around Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh pauses to rehydrate during the first day of his swim around Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Seals watch endurance swimmer Louis Pugh near the Cape Poge Lighthouse, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh answers questions about his planned swim while chatting with visitors to Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh prepares for his swim, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh chats with visitors to Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
An instrument that sends an electronic signal into the water to ward off sharks is attached to a kayak near endurance swimmer Louis Pugh, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh fist bumps a beach-goer before entering the water to begin his swim around Martha's Vineyard, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh swims near the Edgartown Harbor Light, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
An app is used to monitor endurance swimmer Louis Pugh's temperature while he swims in 47 degree F water, Thursday, May 15, 2025, off Edgartown, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Endurance swimmer Louis Pugh swims off the coast pf Edgartown, Mass., Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
