A YouTuber has been banned from Massachusetts after allegedly capturing a protected great white shark and dragging it onto a beach for photographs.
Great white sharks are a protected species in Massachusetts, with regulations prohibiting anglers from deliberately attracting or catching them. The restrictions are particularly important around Cape Cod, where large numbers of sharks gather due to the area’s abundant seal population.
Christopher Stefanou, a 30-year-old content creator who operates the YouTube channel LISHARKMAN, is facing multiple criminal charges over an alleged incident involving a great white shark in October 2025.
Stefanou has over two million subscribers
As per The Independent, Stefanou and his crew spent several days fishing with a European client, allegedly intending to capture a great white shark.
Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois said the group used prohibited equipment, including a drone, to catch a 9.5-foot shark known as Aaron the Shark, which had previously been tagged and monitored by marine researchers.
Prosecutors said the shark was pulled ashore, where members of the group celebrated their catch and took pictures before returning it to the water.
The YouTuber appeared before Barnstable Superior Court on October 21, 2026, to answer charges of animal cruelty to a shark, fishing for shark, mechanical deployment of bait, attempt to capture a shark, and possession of a protected species shark.
Stefanou is next due to appear in court on December 11.
Stefanou was released on $10,000 bail but must comply with several restrictions, including handing over his fishing licence and deleting footage connected to the alleged incident.
He has also been forbidden from fishing, using boats, and flying drones in Massachusetts waters. In addition, he cannot return to the state unless attending court.
His lawyer has disputed the allegations, insisting Stefanou is committed to protecting marine wildlife and promoting ethical fishing. At the time of writing, he has not been convicted of the alleged offences.
