A New York man is in hot water after illegally capturing a great white shark and then dragging it to a Cape Cod beach. The incident occurred this month, and the Cape & Islands District Attorney announced Wednesday that he’s been charged with animal cruelty and breaking rules about shark fishing.
According to Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois, Christopher Stefanou of Long Island took a European client on a “days-long” excursion along the shore of Cape Cod intending to find and capture a great white shark.
Stefanou, who has more than two million subscribers on a YouTube channel documenting his excursions, shared footage online when they captured ‘Aaron the Shark,’ a 9.5-foot male great white that is actively monitored by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
“Authorities were alerted to the illegal activity when Stefanou publicly posted video footage of the capture on social media showing the men using prohibited equipment, including a drone, to capture and drag the shark onto the beach, where they proceeded to celebrate and photograph themselves with the shark prior to releasing it,” Galibois said.
Stefanou’s charges now include animal cruelty to a shark, fishing for shark, mechanical deployment of bait, attempt to capture a shark, and possession of protected species. His bail was set at $10,000 on Wednesday, and he’s due back in court in December.
After the arraignment, Stefanou’s attorney Jon A. Ciraulo pointed out his client’s professional experience as an angler, and argued “There can be no question that Chris respects the sport, actively participates in conservation practices, assists in marine tagging and research efforts, and volunteers his time to educate enthusiasts on safe and responsible angling.”
According to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272, Section 77, cruelty to an animal, including protected wildlife, can be punishable by up to seven years in state prison.
