Influencer ordered to delete shark videos and face multiple wildlife charges

In October 2025, Christopher Stefanou, a 30-year-old from Massapequa, and his crew, along with a European partner, illegally pursued a protected great white shark on the cape’s eastern shore. Using a drone and other prohibited equipment, they dragged the shark onto the beach, filmed the encounter, and later released the animal. The shark, known as Aaron the Shark, had been tagged and was under close observation by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

After the video surfaced online, state prosecutors charged Stefanou with cruelty to animals, illegal shark fishing, mechanical bait deployment, attempted capture, and possession of a protected species. He was instructed to delete all videos of the incident, surrender his fishing license, and was prohibited from entering Massachusetts, with bail set at $10,000.