A YouTuber's own social media video alerted authorities to his alleged capture of a protected great white shark on Cape Cod, prosecutors say.
Christopher Stefanou now faces animal cruelty and fishing-related charges over the October 2025 expedition.
The 30-year-old Long Island angler was arraigned at Barnstable Superior Court in Massachusetts on 21 October 2026. NBC Boston reported that the charges include animal cruelty, fishing for shark, mechanical deployment of bait, attempting to capture a shark and possessing a protected species of shark.
His lawyer says Stefanou maintains his innocence and intends to challenge the allegations.
Posted Footage Drew Investigators' Attention
Stefanou operates the YouTube channel LISHARKMAN. According to the Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office, he and his crew spent several days on Cape Cod's eastern shore with a European client. Prosecutors allege that they intended to capture a great white shark.
The district attorney's office says Stefanou publicly posted footage showing the men using prohibited equipment, including a drone, to capture the shark and drag it onto a beach. The men allegedly celebrated and posed for photographs before releasing the animal.
Prosecutors say that upload brought the alleged activity to authorities' attention. That account explains how investigators learned of the incident; it does not establish that the charges have been proved.
The Provincetown Independent reported that it had viewed footage documenting the expedition. Its account describes Stefanou removing the hook before the shark was returned to the sea.
A Tagged Shark and Restrictions on Fishing Gear
Prosecutors identified the animal as 'Aaron the Shark'. It had previously been tagged and monitored by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in collaboration with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
Massachusetts fisheries guidance published in May 2025 states that attracting and targeting great white sharks was already prohibited. It also announced restrictions on particular combinations of large baited hooks and long metal leaders used when fishing from shore.
Those gear restrictions covered the shoreline from Plymouth Beach around Cape Cod Bay and the Outer Cape, including Chatham Harbour and Monomoy Island. The guidance explicitly allowed lighter tackle for other species within that area.
A separate state advisory prohibited mechanised, compressed-propulsion and remote-controlled devices from deploying bait when shore fishing, specifically including drones. These rules concern bait deployment, rather than a general ban on filming with drones.
Video Removal Ordered as a Bail Condition
Boston.com reported that Stefanou posted bail after his arraignment. He was ordered to surrender his fishing licence and remove videos of the shark.
According to the district attorney's office, his bail conditions also prohibit fishing, boating and drone use in Massachusetts waters.
He must stay outside Massachusetts except for legal matters and cannot advertise fishing activities in its waters.
The conditions also include restrictions on additional videos and posting about the case, prosecutors said. The restriction on entering Massachusetts is a bail condition, rather than a permanent ban following a conviction.
Lawyer Says Stefanou Will Challenge Allegations
Stefanou's lawyer, Jon Ciraulo, told Boston.com that his client 'maintains his innocence and intends to fully challenge the allegations against him'.
Ciraulo also described Stefanou as an experienced angler who participates in conservation, supports marine tagging and research, and teaches responsible fishing. These are the defence's statements about his work.
Stefanou is scheduled to return to Barnstable Superior Court on 11 December 2026. The charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent.
