Fifty years after “Jaws” portrayed nice white sharks as monsters, an endurance swimmer is attempting to flip that fearful narrative for a brand new era.
Lewis Pugh has began swimming round Martha’s Winery, the place “Jaws” was filmed, as white sharks return to the area to feast on seals.
Pugh in his 60-mile swim is attempting to boost consciousness concerning the slaughter of sharks worldwide, and its impact on ocean ecosystems.
“I’m frightened of sharks,” stated Pugh, a protracted distance swimmer who’s additionally the United Nations Setting Programme Patron of the Oceans. “However I’m extra petrified of a world with out them, and that’s what we’re if we don’t act now.
“Without sharks to keep them in balance, marine ecosystems are unraveling at frightening speed,” Pugh added. “We need a new narrative about these magnificent animals because the one we’ve been hearing for the past 50 years threatens our oceans.”
He plans to swim till Might 26, and attempt to change into the primary individual to swim 60 miles round Martha’s Winery. Pugh expects to swim about 6.2 miles every day.
Since 1970, shark populations have dropped by about 70% worldwide via overfishing and habitat destruction, the Lewis Pugh Basis famous.
Every year, an estimated 100 million sharks are killed for his or her fins, meat, oil, and sport. This results in species loss and ecological collapse, with devastating penalties for ocean well being and world meals safety, in keeping with the inspiration.
“Sharks are integral to ocean health, and ocean health is integral to human survival,” Pugh stated. “This is not just about future generations. We must learn to respect and protect sharks today, and this will be my key message.”
He famous that Massachusetts not too long ago took efforts to guard white sharks from on-shore fishing. However this isn’t the case worldwide, the place white sharks are beneath elevated menace.
“When we damage the environment, we create conditions that are ripe for conflict,” Pugh stated. “But when we protect the environment, we foster peace. For centuries we have not only been fighting over the environment, we have been fighting against it. We must learn to make peace with nature for the sake of future generations.”
As an endurance swimmer, Pugh has pioneered swims in a few of the most susceptible ecosystems on earth to marketing campaign for his or her safety. Most not too long ago in 2023, he swam the 315-mile Hudson River to reward its clean-up and spotlight how rivers have an effect on ocean well being.
