BARNSTABLE, Mass. —
A New York-based captain is accused of taking a European client on a days-long shark hunt along the shore of Cape Cod, resulting in the capture of a great white that was being closely monitored by Massachusetts researchers.
Christopher Stefanou, 30, who is based on Long Island, was arraigned Wednesday after being indicted by a Barnstable County Grand Jury, Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois announced. Stefanou faces charges including cruelty to animals and violations of several state regulations, including the possession of a prohibited species.
Galibois’ announcement did not identify the client but said that Stefanou and his crew spent days on the hunt. Authorities were alerted after Stefanou posted video of the shark’s capture on social media.
Within that video, the shark was dragged to a beach, where the DA says the group celebrated and snapped photos before releasing the shark. Galibois also said investigators found that prohibited equipment was being used, including a drone.
“Massachusetts Regulations prohibit shore-based shark fishing with equipment specifically designed to lure and capture large species of fish, including the prohibited species of white shark, in most of the waters surrounding Cape Cod. Such regulations are designed in large part to protect the public from practices that intentionally lure these prohibited species closer to the shore,” Galibois said in a statement.
According to the DA, the shark was identified as a tagged individual, named Aaron, who was being monitored by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, working with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
During his arraignment hearing on Wednesday, Stefanou’s bail was set at $10,000. The judge also required multiple conditions, including that he surrender his fishing license, remove the video and not advertise fishing activities in Massachusetts waters.