A New York man is facing animal cruelty and wildlife charges in Massachusetts after authorities say he caught a great white shark off Cape Cod, dragged it onto shore and restrained it before eventually releasing it back into the ocean.
The incident occurred in September near Nauset Beach in Orleans, according to court records. Prosecutors allege the man hooked the shark while fishing from shore and used a rope to secure the animal after bringing it into shallow water. Videos and photographs of the encounter later circulated online and came to the attention of Massachusetts wildlife officials.
The man has now been charged in Orleans District Court with animal cruelty and violations involving the capture of a protected species. The charges are allegations, and he has not been convicted.
White sharks, commonly called great white sharks, are protected in Massachusetts waters. State regulations prohibit fishermen from intentionally catching, taking or possessing the species. If a protected shark is caught unintentionally, regulations generally require that it be released immediately in a manner intended to minimize injury.
Cape Cod has become one of the most closely watched white shark habitats in the United States as the population of gray seals, an important food source for the sharks, has recovered. Researchers regularly track sharks along the Outer Cape, particularly during the warmer months when the animals move closer to shore.
The case differs from an accidental shark catch because prosecutors allege the animal was deliberately brought ashore and restrained after it had been hooked. Authorities have not alleged that the shark was killed; it was ultimately returned to the water.
The prosecution brings an unusual application of Massachusetts animal cruelty law alongside the state's protections for marine wildlife. The case will now proceed through Orleans District Court, where prosecutors will have to prove the allegations surrounding the capture and treatment of the shark.