jaws powerboats

• Jun 23, 2020

Famous Boats: The Strange Saga of the 'Orca' from JAWS

By: Scott Way

Jaws was released on June 20th, 1975, and to celebrate its 45th anniversary as one of cinema's best aquatic thrillers we dove into the fascinating backstory behind what became of Quint's disheveled but beloved boat: the Orca .

The surly Quint, played by the inimitable Robert Shaw, is a fully unhinged boat captain with a wild-eyed charisma that somehow convinces Amity's level-headed police chief Brody (Roy Scheider), and smug marine biologist Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), to hop aboard the Orca in search of a 25-foot murder fish with a penchant for beach-goers. As we all know, things went awry in the sunny waters off the fictional Amity Island (which was filmed off the real Martha's Vineyard). Based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name, the hysteria created by the film moored itself firmly in the psyche of anyone dipping a toe in the water. 'The Jaws Effect' was real, and it had a pronounced effect not just on the future of filmmaking, but on the psychology of water enthusiasts everywhere . Swimmers, divers, and boaters suddenly became acutely aware (and very paranoid) about the unseen danger lurking below the surface. The bedraggled Quint and his decrepit Orca became mystic: his name and boat a part of aquatic lore like Blackbeard and The Queen Anne's Revenge , Jack Sparrow and The Black Pearl, and of course Captain Ahab and the Pequod.

(Fun Sidenote- my parents watched Jaws on its release date in theaters in 1975 while living on a tiny freshwater lake in Northern Ontario. They swore off swimming in the lake indefinitely, even though it was barely larger than a pond and the biggest thing in it were leeches. It was weeks before they went in again.)

In the film, the Orca , with its peeling paint and rotten deckboards, is besieged and ultimately destroyed by both the stubbornness of the Ahab-esque Quint and the bloodlust of the shark. Quint's mission for glory slowly unfurls as his insatiable thirst for revenge, and he tosses any semblance of logic overboard while John Williams' legendary musical score slowly builds (dun dun.... dun dun....). Quint eventually fries the radio, cooks the motor, and rattles his crew with a chilling tale about his time aboard the USS Indianapolis and the shark-infested waters that haunt his mind. His mission to hunt down and kill Jaws is his personal white whale, and there was no bigger boat than the Orca, and no shark scarier than Jaws, to captivate audiences.

We know what becomes of dear old Quint. His monologue and death scene were revered by critics and earned him legendary status (although the outtake reel wasn't without its humorous moments). Now 45 years later, we're taking a look back at Jaws to uncover what became of Quint's beloved Orca and the shark-fearing culture it spawned.

The filming of Jaws off New England's coast presented unique challenges for young director Steven Spielberg. With salt water wreaking havoc on the hydraulics used to maneuver both the Orca and its sinkable stunt double Orca II , not to mention the full-size electronic faux-shark (nicknamed "Bruce"), much of the machinery was abandoned or sold off to locals when filming wrapped. At least, at first. This is where the stories of Orca I and Orca II diverge into two drastically different endings that seem strangely fitting for the famously troubled production.

Orca I , the actual functioning fishing boat was originally purchased by production designer Joe Alves in nearby Marblehead, Massachusetts for use in the film. It was a lobster boat under the name Warlock before being renamed and refitted with a mast pulpit. It was repainted in burgundy and black and had oversized windows installed to make it more identifiable as an intimidating shark hunting vessel.

Orca II was merely a fibreglass replica of the original Orca I . Made strictly for the film, it was a sinkable set piece put in place anytime "Bruce" attacked the boat. With a complicated system of hydraulic barrels that allowed the boat to be tilted and 'sunk' on command, it was essentially a showpiece for shark attacks. The stern was made to break away during the attack on Quint and had to be rebuilt multiple times to get the right take. The Orca II was itself a difficult vessel- it reportedly sunk properly on more than one occasion, taking two expensive cameras on loan from Universal Studios with it. Its fragile wood components required the importing of wood from California to get the right destructive sequence.

After filming wrapped, Universal Studios shipped Orca I back to Hollywood with the bulk of the movie's equipment. For unknown reasons, shortly thereafter they sold it for $13,000 to a special effects technician in Los Angeles who wanted to use it for sword fishing. A year later, when the movie became a massive hit topping $100 million at the box office, Universal raced to buy the boat back and capitalize on its mystique- allegedly paying 10 times what they'd sold it for. In a fitting end to Orca I , it became the backdrop to the 'Amity Island' ride at Universal Studios. In another strange twist, legends persist that Spielberg used to visit the set at night to reminisce or find inspiration before it was unceremoniously chopped up and destroyed without warning when it became too rundown to show. No one really knows, or is willing to talk about, how exactly Orca I met its end.

The Orca II went a much different, and even sadder, route. It was scuttled by a series of petty thefts, disillusionment, and eventually abandonment. As a fibreglass replica of the Orca I hull with no motor- plus a complicated system of hydraulic barrels and lifts- it had little nautical value. A local marine mechanic named Lynne Murphy who'd been hired to work on the film purchased it for the hefty sum of $1. Murphy was familiar with the Jaws equipment, having been hired to assist with everything from towing the robotic shark to fixing the machinery that failed regularly during production (which went vastly over its initial $3.5 million budget- eventually totaling over $7 million- and months past its original shooting schedule). With Universal having no real use for the Orca II , Murphy was happy to bring home his own souvenir.

Murphy had a purpose for the Orca II , but not as memorabilia. As the owner of a salvage operation on the shoreline of nearby Menemsha Creek, he placed the Orca II alongside several other forgotten boats from the shoot- including the SS Garage Sale which had served as the on-set vessel for storing costumes, camera equipment, and other production pieces. Murphy's intent was to use the fibreglass hull to build a shed on his property, but that idea ran aground when his plans were denied by local building authorities. With few other options, the Orca II sat idle through the rest of '74 until the movie was released in the summer of '75. According to Murphy's wife Susan, “It had no bottom. There was nothing that could make it float. It was not seaworthy. The only thing that made it seaworthy was the tanks that were filled to keep it floating. That’s how it could sink on cue. The only reason he got it is because they practically gave it to him." Then in June of '75, Jaws hysteria hit. Much like the famous Fairbanks, Alaska city bus from Into The Wild that became an iconic landmark for outdoor enthusiasts, "finatics" from Jaws began searching for the Orca . It became a pilgrimage for movie fans and boaters to discover, and ultimately, pillage to the point of abandonment.

Jaws became the highest grossing film of all-time by late 1975 (until Star Wars arrived two years later). Martha's Vineyard became a mecca for tourists and boaters looking to experience 'Amity Island.' They came with hopes of scooping up movie memorabilia, or to hear local tales about the goings-on of the now famous cast who'd created Hollywood's biggest phenomenon. Murphy's boat quickly became a very obvious and very identifiable piece of movie memorabilia sitting on the beach in Menemsha. According to Murphy's wife Susan, "it started to be picked to death." 'Finatics' tore into the Orca II . It wasn't too long before the pulpit, mast, and fly bridge all went missing. 

“Sometimes we called the police,” Susan says. “They would meet people on the other side of the harbor after they got back on the road with the stuff and arrest them for trespassing and stealing.” Some arrived under the cover of night using flashlights. The Murphys put up “No Trespassing” signs but it did little to slow down thieves.

With few options, the Murphys could do little but watch as the Orca II was picked clean. Between the thefts and the saltwater dousing it, the next 30 years would see it reduced to practically nothing. The final tipping point came in 2005, when Martha’s Vineyard announced it would be hosting ' Jawsfest ,' a weekend festival celebrating everything Jaws. The Murphys knew that with movie buffs descending on their tiny town, the Orca II was too obvious to ignore. “Once we cut it up,” Susan says, “it was done.”

The Murphys took a chainsaw to the Orca II and slashed it into 1000 fibreglass squares 1 foot by 1 foot each. With a little entrepreneurial spirit they sold them for profit (at a fair rate of $130 each and placed inside a custom shadow box made by Susan) rather than as fly-by-night burglary prizes. Each piece came with a certificate of authenticity signed by the Murphys. Susan even willingly let go of a few other prized items- including the yellow barrels Quint harpooned into the shark from the pulpit during their back and forth battle. Those went to courteous 'finatics' who reached out in advance and visited her on the island with permission. Then in 2011, the Murphys entered into an agreement with authors Matt Taylor and Jim Beller to contribute pieces of the boat to the limited edition of Jaws: Memories from Martha's Vineyard . The book took a comprehensive look at the making of the film and the contributions of cast and crew. The pieces quickly sold out. The last one that turned up on eBay sold for a reported $1850.

“Once the book came out and people found out how big a part in the movie we had, there was a certain element of respect that wasn’t there before,” Susan says. “I’m not one to hold a grudge. I have to let go of what happened to the Orca II and the difficulty we had in protecting it.”

In many ways, the Murphys were the de-facto saviors of both the production and the enduring cultural phenomenon that remained in Martha's Vineyard after Jaws left for Hollywood. Although both Orca I and Orca II deserved a better end, it's strangely fitting they were chewed up by shark 'finatics.' The saddest part, though, is that the Orca II would have undoubtedly been worth a tidy sum. In comparison to other movie relics like the slippers from Wizard of Oz or Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from Star Wars , had the Orca II stayed in salvageable condition there is little double it would have been worth millions to a collector.

Even though the Orca II suffered a slow demise at the hands of pop culture pilferers, "Bruce" the mechanical shark survived the next few decades surprisingly well. Having gone from public enemy #1 to gradual 'fin' favourite, the 25 foot fibreglass predator spent 25 years in a Los Angeles scrapyard before being revived for a museum show in 2018.

h/t to Mental Floss and Marlin Mag

#culture #weirdboats

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The Bizarre Tale of the Orca II, the Stunt Boat from Jaws

In nautical circles, building a boat that proceeds to sink an astonishing 24 times would be considered a disaster. For the purposes of the crew tasked with filming 1975’s shark thriller Jaws , it meant they had done their job.

In an era before computer effects, director Steven Spielberg and production designer Joe Alves wanted their adaptation of the Peter Benchley novel—about a shark that terrorizes the tourist hub of Amity Island—to feel authentic. That meant shooting on location at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, where they spent five agonizing months putting actors and several malfunctioning mechanical sharks in the water. Often, those scenes would be centered around the Orca , the fictitious shark-hunting boat manned by salty seaman Quint (Robert Shaw). For shots where the 42-foot Orca was assaulted by the atypically aggressive shark, Alves and his team substituted the functioning boat for the Orca II , a near-exact duplicate that had no motor but could sink on command. It’s the Orca II that takes up most of the screen time during the film’s climactic scene, when the shark decides to jump on the stern of the boat to take a bite out of both the vessel and Quint.

But the shark was not the only threat to the Orca II . After being decommissioned and put out of movie service, the replica boat would spend the next several decades being ransacked by Jaws fans and memorabilia collectors despite being located on private land. Frustrated and fed up, its owners would take a chainsaw to its fiberglass hull, leaving little more than a relic that was later visited by an archeologist fascinated with its status as a “fake” artifact.

In being looted by trespassers and ravaged by the sea, had the Orca II transformed into something other than a movie prop? Had it become a cultural touchstone worthy of closer examination, or had the film’s popularity exaggerated its significance? And after nearly 45 years, would there be anything left of the Orca II to even examine?

From the beginning, the Orca II may have been the only element of Jaws that worked as expected. The Universal film, which initially had a modest budget of $3.5 million, was directed by Spielberg, who had impressed executives with his television work and a 1974 feature, The Sugarland Express . Spielberg and screenwriter Carl Gottlieb rewrote Peter Benchley’s script, preserving only the bare bones of the story: A shark arrives during tourist season on Amity Island, throwing the town into an uproar. Chief of police Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) recruits a marine biologist named Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and ornery old seaman Quint (Shaw) to protect their shores from the marine terror. Quint’s boat, the Orca , would be their maritime base of operations.

Alves tells Mental Floss that the need for a second stunt boat was obvious from the beginning. “I did 250 storyboards,” he says. “We knew the boat had to sink, and there was no way of sinking the real Orca and bringing it back.”

The working Orca was a 42-foot-long former lobster boat dubbed the Warlock that Alves had found near Marblehead, Massachusetts. The white boat was repainted in burgundy and black and accessorized with a pulpit and oversized windows, the better for a casual audience to identify it as a formidable shark-hunting vessel. It was part of a fleet of 16 ships the production used for filming on water, including multiple barges that towed boats and the mechanical sharks, as well as a catch-all vessel, the SS Garage Sale , that had dressing rooms and a bathroom for cast and crew. Speedboats could transport people or supplies back and forth from shore. Even with these ships, shooting on water was interminable, a fact that’s become part of Jaws lore.

“It’s so difficult,” Alves, who worked on three of the four Jaws films, says. “The water is non-consistent. You had to anchor boats with four anchors to control them.” Once, the Orca took on water and partially sank . It had to be pulled out, dried out, and have wood replaced, all in time to be ready for shooting the following day.

Knowing the actual boat could never withstand such repeated stresses, Alves commissioned the production crew to make a cast out of the Orca and use it to construct a fiberglass replica. On the surface, the Orca II was a mirror image of the Orca ; the team ran props back and forth between the boats as needed. But underneath was much different. Without a motor, it had to be towed into place for shots. If it needed to sink, a crew member would use pneumatic tubes to tip the barrels mounted below the hull so they would begin to take on water, and the ship would be pulled into the depths. Once water was siphoned out, the barrels would regain their buoyancy and it would return to the surface. It was so convincing that production painter Ward Welton once jumped on board to try and start it—and got confused when he couldn’t find the motor. He thought it was the actual Orca .

What Alves needed in addition to the Orca II and the other boats were experienced boat operators. He found a local named Lynn Murphy while supervising the construction of Quint’s home in nearby Menemsha. “I hired him,” Alves says. “He had a little shack there where he kept his boat. He was yelling and screaming. I asked if he was a boat guy because we needed some.” Lynn and his wife, Susan, both came on the production to captain the boats and oversee their use. “Lynn knew a lot about boats. He got there and corrected some things. We started using him to tow the shark.”

That Alves witnessed Lynn yelling was not an unusual occurrence. The former auto mechanic, who operated Menemsha Marine Repair, was infamous in the area for his fiery temper. Following some kind of verbal dispute with harbor master Phil Le Vasseur in 1969, Lynn ended the argument by tossing the man into the harbor.

“He was a rough kind of sea guy,” Alves says. As the story goes, Spielberg was so enamored with Lynn’s persona that he directed Shaw to channel him for Quint. That makes sense to Alves, who says Shaw took inspiration from Lynn and that the two often went out for drinks after filming for the day.

(Tempestuous as he may have been, Lynn was also known for his selflessness. He was once commended by then-Senator John F. Kennedy for his bravery in securing boats and providing assistance during two major hurricanes in 1954.)

As difficult as filming was, it might have been impossible if not for the efforts of Lynn, Susan, and the other locals. Filming that was supposed to end in July dragged on through August and into September. Shots that would have been simple to do on land were at the mercy of unpredictable waters and unforeseen circumstances. Once, the Orca II sank a little too well, taking with it two Panavision cameras that cost Universal $24,000 a week to rent. Both cameras were full of film. In a panic, a crew member stuffed the film into a bucket of freshwater to try and prevent the saltwater from ruining the celluloid. He then jumped on a plane to New York in the hopes that Kodak could develop it in time. The footage was saved, but the fate of the cameras is unknown.

Near the end of shooting, the Orca II was positioned for its biggest moment. In the final face-off between man and shark, the mechanical predator (nicknamed “Bruce” after Spielberg’s lawyer, Bruce Ramer) was to “jump” on the stern, destroying it and gobbling up Quint in the process. Alves had made several breakaway sterns for the Orca II out of balsa wood. “We had three sterns,” he says. “I wish we had four. I’m not that happy with how the shark landed. There’s not a lot of balsa wood in Martha’s Vineyard. We shipped it in from Los Angeles.”

In September, Spielberg finished principal photography. Alves and others stayed behind for pick-up shots, including one last sinking of the Orca II . Once the film was finally done, the crew hurried off. Virtually no thought was given to the movie even being any good, let alone concern for the props or production elements involved.

“The studio didn’t give a damn,” Alves says. The Orca was shipped to Hollywood, where it was sold to a special effects technician who wanted to use it for sword fishing. He paid $13,000. The Orca II was left behind.

Lynn Murphy saw a purpose for the Orca II , but not as a piece of memorabilia. As the owner of a salvage operation, his property on the shoreline of Menemsha Creek across from the small fishing village of Menemsha had several scrap boats and vehicles, including the SS Garage Sale and three barges used for the film. He paid Universal a nominal amount of $1 to buy the Orca II , intending to use the fiberglass to build a shed on his property. It really had no other purpose because it was not actually a boat.

“It was simply a prop,” Lynn’s wife, Susan, tells Mental Floss. “It had no bottom. There was nothing that could make it float. It was not seaworthy. The only thing that made it seaworthy was the tanks that were filled to keep it floating. That’s how it could sink on cue. The only reason he got it is because they practically gave it to him.”

Lynn towed the Orca II to his private shoreline but quickly ran into a snag. The shed he intended to build was not approved by local building authorities. With little use for the replica boat, he decided to let it sit idle on shore. The Orca II was visible across the water to anyone walking near the shoreline on Menemsha. For the rest of 1974 and for part of 1975, that was not a remarkable fact. But when Jaws opened in June 1975, everything changed.

The film became Hollywood’s first real summer blockbuster, devouring box office records and sitting atop the list of the highest-grossing films of all time before Star Wars arrived two years later. Suddenly, Martha’s Vineyard was no longer just a spot for vacationers but a place to make a pilgrimage to Amity Island. Lynn Murphy’s boat was no longer a discarded hunk of fiberglass but the Orca II , sticking its mast out for all to see. People just assumed it was there for their enjoyment.

“It started to be picked to death,” Susan says. Fans of the movie—who were eventually labeled “finatics”—would come over by boat and begin tearing into the Orca II , yanking out nails, planks, and whatever else could be removed by hand. Quickly, the pulpit, mast, and fly bridge went missing. 

“I’ve known people who have gone over there and taken pieces,” Jim Beller, a Jaws historian and collector, tells Mental Floss. “They weren’t sure it was the right thing to do.” Some, Beller says, took a piece and then regretted it later.

“Sometimes we called the police,” Susan says. “They would meet people on the other side of the harbor after they got back on the road with the stuff and arrest them for trespassing and stealing.” Some arrived under cover of night, using flashlights. The Murphys put up “No Trespassing” signs to little avail. A peculiar sense of ownership seemed to empower fans of the movie to chip away at the Orca II , piece by piece. It is something of a wonder that Lynn Murphy, never long on patience, didn’t wind up in a confrontation with one.

“Lynn probably yelled at them to get away from the boat,” Susan says. “Whether he ever threw anyone overboard or got violent, I don’t think so.”

This went on for years; the Orca II seemed fated to be ransacked. According to Susan, towing it away was not really an option. It had arrived by water and there was nowhere else to put it. It was too large to drag further inland or display indoors. Partially pulled apart, it was likely of little interest to Universal, who had scrambled to buy back the Orca from the special effects technician after the movie was a hit so it could be put on display at Universal Studios as part of its Jaws ride. He reportedly charged them 10 times what he had paid them for it.

Out of options, the Murphys had little choice but to watch as the Orca II continued to be disassembled, both by fans and by the damaging saltwater washing over it. Souvenir hunters had even taken to yanking parts from the Far Star , a boat unrelated to Jaws that was located near the Orca II , leading to confusion over which was the genuine fake boat. Some posed for pictures, proudly displaying their technically-illegal gains.

“People get into a frenzy,” Susan says. “They think they can take anything they want. They were not really respectful to the movie they seemed to revere.”

The breaking point came in 2005, when the Murphys discovered that Martha’s Vineyard would be hosting Jawsfest, a weekend celebration of all things Jaws . Fans of the film would be coming to the island in greater numbers than ever before, and it was likely they would descend upon what was left of the Orca II like ants on a picnic.

The Murphys had enough. “Once we cut it up,” Susan says, “it was done.”

Taking a chainsaw to what remained of the fiberglass hull, the Murphys expedited the dissolution of the Orca II . They were left with 1000 fiberglass squares that measured 1 foot by 1 foot each. If fans wanted a souvenir, they could buy them in a proper transaction. The pieces did a brisk business, with certificates of authenticity from the Murphys. One piece reportedly sold on eBay for $1850.

In 2011, the Murphys entered into an agreement with co-authors Beller and Matt Taylor to contribute smaller pieces to a limited edition of Jaws: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard , a book that takes a comprehensive look at the making of the film and highlighted their contributions to the production. “Once the book came out and people found out how big a part in the movie we had, there was a certain element of respect that wasn’t there before,” Susan says. “I’m not one to hold a grudge. I have to let go of what happened to the Orca II and the difficulty we had in protecting it.”

That appeared to be the end of the Orca II , at least as far as its shore presence was concerned. But there was still at least one person curious about what remained.

The Jaws phenomenon that gripped the country in 1975 was not lost on P.J. Capelotti. When he was 14 years old, he caught the film seven times in one week when it was playing at the $1 cinema. “It’s one of those movies you could watch endlessly,” Capelotti tells Mental Floss.

Now a professor of anthropology at Penn State Abington, Capelotti was looking for a project that might prove to be slightly less strenuous than some of his archaeological pursuits of the past. In 2015, his daughter showed him an article in the Boston Globe about the 40th anniversary of Jaws . “It had a picture of two different Orcas , one that was actually a real vessel and one that was a mock-up of the real vessel,” he says. “I thought, ‘Cool.’ I’m a Jaws fanatic. I knew where it was.”

Capelotti was not in search of a souvenir but to assess the location itself, which had become the unlikeliest of archaeological sites, for a chapter in his 2018 book, Adventures in Archaeology . “I wanted to see what was left,” he says. By this time in May 2017, Lynn Murphy had passed away; the couple had sold the land to the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank, where it eventually wound up in the hands of a Native American tribe. To step foot on the land, visitors need permission from the natural resources department of the federally acknowledged Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Capelotti reached a friend at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to get approval. A 45-minute ferry ride got him to Vineyard Haven, and a 45-minute drive took him to the segment of West Basin Road that looks out opposite Menemsha. After a 45-minute hike across a salt marsh and white dunes, Capelotti finally found it: the final resting place of the Orca II .

Above the sand and shallow water, the only thing that remained were six stanchions from the metal framework that was beneath the hull and held the barrels. Together, it measured 18 feet, 6 inches long and 8 feet wide. Some short lengths of the pneumatic tubing to assist in the sinking were also there. Nearby, what was left of the Far Star continued to erode, though it retained a boat-like shape. Some 60 feet away was the SS Garage Sale , the utility vessel from filming. It was all little more than a little bit of rubber, metal, and outlines in the sand. Whatever might be buried farther down went undisturbed. “I didn’t have permission to excavate into the sand,” Capelotti says.

Had it not been for exposure and overzealous fans, it’s likely the Orca II and its fiberglass frame would have outlived the original Orca , which went missing from the Jaws ride in 1996 and was thought to have deteriorated to the point that it sank and subsequently broke in half during an attempt to salvage it.

With the Orca II stripped down to its bones, Capelotti saw more than the vestiges of the prop it once was. It was a lesson in the fragility of cultural artifacts.

“Most sites we work on [in archaeology] have been reduced steadily over time,” he says. “The stone in the Roman Coliseum was looted in the Middle Ages to make homes for people in Rome.”

Susan Murphy continues to sell pieces of the Orca II , which she mounts in a shadowbox for $130 plus shipping. They still move at a steady clip, and Susan says she has enough inventory to keep Jaws fans supplied for the foreseeable future. Purchasing one requires some imagination. Stripped of paint, the fiberglass pieces aren’t easily identifiable as something that was once part of the iconic vessel that helped bring down one of the most terrifying horror villains in movie history.

“I have a piece of the red part of the Orca II , a big piece, but you wouldn’t know what it was,” Beller says.

If the Orca II had remained intact, Capelotti believes it could have been destined to sell for an incredible sum to a collector. “Dorothy’s ruby slippers [from The Wizard of Oz ] are valued at millions of dollars,” he says. “Imagine what something like the Orca II would have been worth.”

Sometimes, Beller says, there are renewed talks of a fan building a full-scale replica. No one has fully committed to such an ambitious and expensive project, though. To date, nothing has surfaced, and the Orca II lives on only on film and in photos. But that doesn't mean it's been entirely forgotten.

Not long ago, Alves was at a convention, Shark Con, when he was approached by a father and daughter who presented him with a small piece of metal. “What’s this?” he said. The two explained they had been to West Basin Road—presumably without tribal permission—and had taken what they believed to be a souvenir of the Orca II . This time, though, things went a little differently.

“They gave it to me,” Alves says.

Additional Source: Adventures in Archaeology .

Farewell and Adieu in Menemsha

• By Christopher Balogh
• Updated: May 20, 2015

The Orca might be the most famous fishing boat in cinema. It relentlessly pursued a 25-foot porker, set the scene for scar stories and was owned by the saltiest captain on Amity Island. It also became one of the symbols of a new era in cinema — the summer blockbuster. It’s gone forever. We will never see Orca on the hunt again. And not due to the appetite of a 3-ton fish; looters and a lack of oversight doomed this film icon.

The film Jaws made many boys into fishermen, but it also kept kids away from the beach for a while. This movie, which introduced a completely new level of terror to children even taking a bath, also evolved into a never-give-up story of filmmaking. The film’s 27-year-old director, Steven Spielberg, was learning how to make a big movie on the fly and having to deal with an enormous amount of production problems due to the film’s nautical nature. Filmmaking around the ocean is not easy. As a result, Spielberg needed the help from the locals of Martha’s Vineyard, specifically those folks in and around the fishing village of Menemsha.

Spielberg hired locals as extras and some even got speaking parts or worked as part of the crew. One townie, in particular, can be considered the backbone of that local support.

“Lynne Murphy arguably saved parts of the film production, more than any other local,” says Matt Taylor, author of Jaws: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard . The 292-page book that he and Jim Beller, a Jaws historian and collector, comprised is full of photographs and memories of the islanders during the shooting of the film.

Lynne Murphy was a local marine mechanic when Hollywood came to town. He was hired to assist with anything from towing the robotic shark to fixing the electronics on the underwater platforms for action scenes.

According to Taylor, during the rehearsals for towing the shark close to the Orca , Murphy would use a buoy in place of the Orca — to get the shark as close as possible without dinging the real boat until “action” was called. In watching the scene where Chief Brody is about to blow the hell out of the shark, there is an unintentional wake, which is actually caused by Murphy’s boat. That’s how close Murphy had to get to the Orca to make the shark look like it was actually coming at the boat.

In 1974, production ended. As in some cases when a film wraps, props and equipment are sold on the spot. Murphy bought the fiberglass Orca replica for a dollar.

However, there were two Orcas used in the production of the film. The first was the operational Orca , which was purchased nearby in Marblehead, Massachusetts. It originally was used as a lobster boat under the name of Warlock . The production team revamped it with some paint and added a mast pulpit. It became known on set as Orca 1. This is the boat used in most of the regular fishing scenes. But when you see a boat that’s sinking or being destroyed, that’s Orca 2.

Orca 2 was created out of fiberglass that came from the mold made from the original boat. There was no motor attached and several breakaway sterns were built into the replica. In the infamous scene where the shark chomps on Quint as Chief Brody throws a scuba tank into the shark’s mouth — that’s Orca 2.

The production team shipped the Orca 1 back to Universal Studios in Hollywood, California. Taylor says that within a brief time, it was sold to a fisherman in Los Angeles. A year later, after the movie became a hit and was the first film to top $100 million, Universal Studios bought Orca 1 back from him — paying 10 times what they originally sold it for. It was then placed on the backlot studio tour near the Amity Island section of the ride. Taylor and a bit of Hollywood lore says that Spielberg would sneak onto the Orca during the night to think about the days of the Jaws shoot as well as mull over future ideas for his upcoming films.

“Apparently, Spielberg came one night to sit on Orca and it was gone,” says Taylor. “Some studio execs thought to get rid of it and chopped it up with chainsaws.”

Another legend, which Taylor heard as well, was that Orca was in such disrepair that Universal Studios planned to repair it, and while picking it up with a crane, the boat cracked in half.

Orca deserves a bit of mystery. Forever the idea that it may be out there somewhere, whether in some secret marina or in a someone’s garage — which is exactly where Murphy’s Orca 2 still sits in pieces.

After first purchasing Orca 2, Murphy placed it on his privately-owned beach in Menemsha. It sat on the bank over 30 years, but withered down to sections because of rabid fans that wanted a piece of film history.

“The Murphys started to notice that pieces were disappearing,” says Taylor. “First, it was the pulpit, then the mast and then the fly bridge.”

In 2005, after several security issues, the Murphys decided to cut up the remains of the boat into a thousand 1-foot by 1-foot squares. These pieces were then included within the original limited edition of Jaws: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard.

They are all sold out. Recently, one of these 1-inch squares sold on eBay for $1,850.

It’s a shame — both of these boats belonged in a museum. They became a piece of film history and deserved much better fates.

Orca is right up there with film’s other iconic symbols; Citizen Kane ‘s Rosebud or The Wizard of Oz ‘s__ ruby red slippers. The boat became lore on its way out.

Although both Orcas deserved more than what they got, it’s kind of fitting to think that Orca 2, which was portrayed as being ravaged like a chew toy by a great white, ended up as a bunch of chunks torn off by another set of real sharks — the crazed fans.

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The Orca: More Than Just Jaws’ Quintessential Boat

The Orca, a fictional boat forever linked to Steven Spielberg’s classic film “Jaws,” holds a unique place in cinematic history. This seemingly ordinary vessel became a symbol of man’s struggle against the power of nature. But there’s more to the Orca than meets the eye. Delving deeper, we explore the Orca’s fictional origins, its real-life inspiration, and its enduring legacy in pop culture.

A Fictional Fishing Vessel: The Orca in Jaws

In Jaws, the Orca serves as the vessel for Captain Quint, a grizzled shark hunter hired to eliminate the great white terrorizing Amity Island. The film depicts the Orca as a rugged and weathered wooden boat, perfectly embodying the tenacity of its captain.

Inspired by Reality: The Real “Martha Jane”

The Orca’s design was inspired by a real-life fishing vessel named the “Martha Jane.” Built in 1947, the Martha Jane was a classic wooden double-masted motorboat operating out of Montauk, New York . Spielberg, seeking a boat with character, came across the Martha Jane and secured her for filming.

Modifications for the Big Screen

While the Martha Jane served as the base, the Orca underwent significant modifications for the film. The most notable change was the addition of a fighting chair at the stern, a crucial element for the epic battle between Quint and the shark. The vessel’s name was also changed to Orca, the scientific name for the killer whale, creating a symbolic connection to the film’s antagonist, the great white shark.

The Orca’s Fate: A Cinematic Turning Point

The Orca’s fate in Jaws is a pivotal moment in the film. After a brutal struggle, the mighty vessel is dragged underwater by the shark, taking Quint and most of the crew to a watery grave. This scene marked a shift in the horror genre, showcasing the vulnerability of humans in the face of nature’s raw power.

The Orca’s Legacy: Beyond Jaws

Despite its fictional demise, the Orca’s influence extends far beyond Jaws. The boat has become a pop culture icon, instantly recognizable and synonymous with the film. It represents the dangers of the ocean, the struggle for survival, and the enduring power of cinema.

Where is the Orca Today?

The original Orca used in filming Jaws met an unfortunate end. Deteriorating over the years, it eventually sank off the coast of California in 1998. However, the legacy of the Orca lives on. Replica Orca boats have been constructed and are featured in various Jaws-related tourist attractions and events, allowing fans to experience a piece of cinematic history.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Boat

The Orca is more than just a vessel in Jaws; it’s a symbol. It embodies the film’s themes, the power of nature, and the enduring human spirit. While the original Orca may be lost, its image remains etched in our collective consciousness, a testament to the lasting impact of Jaws and its unforgettable boat.

Happy boating!

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Orca (boat)

The Orca shark fishing boat, and a chum marker in the foreground.

The infamous shark fishing vessel The Orca was depicted in the film Jaws and again as a sunken wreck in Jaws 2 .

Jaws (1975)

Captained by the misanthropic, eccentric war veteran known simply among island locals as  Quint , The Orca was sunk off the coast of Amity Island following an extended shark hunt for Bruce .

On its final voyage,  The Orca was crewed by Amity’s chief of police, Martin Brody , and a schooled oceanographer from Woods Hole, Matt Hooper . A game fisherman in every sense, Quint was steadfast as the boats' beleaguered captain to the very end, with machete and blood flying in dramatic recoil.

The demise of the The Orca was due in part to structural damage resulting from relentless attacks by a now infamous maniacal rogue shark. Although the boat had been designed to seek out and catch sharks, it was ultimately no match for the overtly cunning, pursuing predator Quint was hired to catch. Attempting to draw the monster in to the shallows, The Orca was eventually overrevved and inadvertently scuttled. After listing to port, Brody was able to fire one final explosive shot from the sinking mast at a compressed air tank in the mouth of the attacking shark, killing it and ending the menace to the beaches of Amity.  

Captain: Quint

Helmsman: Matt Hooper

Boatswain: Police Chief Martin Brody

• 2 Martin Brody
• 3 Sean Brody

“Return of the Orca”: The Iconic ‘Jaws’ Boat is Being Rebuilt for Shark Conservation Efforts

The original ship used in Spielberg’s Jaws was destroyed decades ago, but we’ve learned this week that the iconic Orca is being rebuilt from the ground up by its original creators!

Announced over the weekend, Return of the Orca will bring the legendary boat back to life for a good cause, with an Indiegogo campaign launched to help make it all happen.

A project years in the making, Return of the Orca brings together the biggest names in Jaws – Making The Monster & The Daily Jaws . The official press release details:

The Orca, Quint’s legendary boat from the film Jaws, is being recreated by the original people involved in the blockbuster who designed and built her for the film released in 1975.

Rather than hunting the great white shark, as in the film, part of the Orca’s new mission will be researching marine life and helping people better understand the varieties of shark species in the area around Martha’s Vineyard including great white sharks . 

Jaws author Peter Benchley was a huge advocate of conservation, a legacy continued by his widow. Wendy Benchley is on the board of directors of Beneath The Waves, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting ocean health and focusing on threatened species conservation, who will use the new Orca as part of its mission offering expeditions for the organization’s researchers.

Helping realise this project is Academy Award nominee and Jaws production designer Joe Alves . Also involved is Martha’s Vineyard local Chris Crawford , who refitted the boat ‘Warlock’ in just six weeks back in 1974, creating the Orca in Jaws. This time round, the new Orca will be a refit from a Nova Scotia lobster boat, the “Lydia”, found on the north shore of Massachusetts.

As well as good news for local conservation efforts, the project is also looking to help local youth charities on Martha’s Vineyard. After completion of the build, the Orca III will be launched at a public christening ceremony into the waters off Martha’s Vineyard, just like in the film. 

Orca III will then begin her conservationist mission. Greg Skomal, PhD , and Marine Fisheries biologist at Martha’s Vineyard Fisheries, will journey aboard the Orca III to the waters off Martha’s Vineyard. There he will work with his crew to stage research of the sharks around the island prowling the waters for the rich seal population which has exploded over the past 20 years. 

From there, the future of the Orca III will be dedicated to giving movie fans a boat to visit that they haven’t seen in decades as well as providing a vessel for the scientists at Beneath The Waves to use in their conservation efforts.

Head over to Indiegogo to learn more and become a part of Jaws history.

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has four awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

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Fede Alvarez Explains Why ‘Alien: Romulus’ Was Originally Going Direct-to-Hulu

The first film in the Predator franchise in the wake of Disney taking over 20th Century Fox, Prey went direct-to-Hulu back in 2022, but the Alien franchise’s first film under the Disney umbrella is getting a big theatrical release this weekend. But that wasn’t always the case.

As you may recall, A lien: Romulus was originally announced as a Hulu movie, and director Fede Alvarez explains what changed – and when it changed – in a new chat with Variety .

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The pivot to theatrical for Alien: Romulus looks to have been a smart one on the part of 20th Century Studios, as the film opened to $6.5 million in Thursday previews last night.

The Hollywood Reporter notes , “ Romulus bit off a strong $6.5 million in Thursday previews, putting the highly anticipated August event on course to open to a better-than-expected $40 million-plus in another win for the Disney film empire and the summer box office overall.”

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New Indiegogo campaign hopes to rebuild Jaws' shark-hunting boat as a research vessel

Credit: Universal Studios

Seemingly resurrected from out of the briny blue depths of the Atlantic Ocean, the infamous fishing boat from director  Steven Spielberg's timeless masterpiece  will rise again thanks to an inspired collection of Jaws   megafans, original members of the Hollywood blockbuster's production, and noted shark conservationists.

The ambitious plan to rebuild Quint's Orca recently launched as a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to craft a working replica to be christened Orca III . This nostalgic project is spearheaded by WGBH editor/colorist David Bigelow, who aims to manifest a metamorphosis for a weathered Nova Scotia-style lobster boat called the Lydia . This duplicate vessel ( Orca II was the stunt boat) will be put to sea and utilized as a great white shark research lab and for educational tours on the regional waters of Martha's Vineyard.

Credit: David Bigelow

Bigelow has a unique relationship with the classic film, as he was an extra in  Jaws as a 5-year-old kid while living in nearby Oaks Bluff. His elementary school drama teacher, Lee Fierro, even played the role of the bereaved Mrs. Kintner, mother of Alex Kintner, who was the shark's second human victim while swimming on an inflatable yellow raft.

"I was 5 years old living on Martha’s Vineyard, and the local town ordinance was that you had to take swimming lessons if you were a new kid and hadn’t learned to swim," Bigelow tells SYFY WIRE. "I was taking lessons that spring when Jaws came to town. Universal Studios set up and took over the island in April of that year. My drama teacher, Lee Fierro, who portrayed Mrs. Kintner, let us know she was going to be in Jaws . She asked if I wanted to come down to be in a scene they were shooting. The film set was a mile and a half from where I took my lessons. I was there for the Alex Kintner attack sequence and ended up in a scene playing with a bunch of kids with a football in the foreground when Alex is eaten by the shark and gets pulled underwater in a big pool of blood."

The Lydia was actually bought by Bigelow to use in a planned six-part docudrama project called  Making the Monster , chronicling the making of Jaws  on the New England island. But with the continued proliferation of sharks in local waters, Bigelow decided the boat would be better suited for conservation, education, and research efforts.

"In the Jaws universe what you hope for is serendipity, just like the original movie," he explains. "I began two years ago to explore making a TV series documenting the creation of Jaws.  How this film nearly killed everybody on the crew after six months on the Vineyard, being out on the ocean, and the shark not working. Yet it forged an incredible blockbuster film that everyone thinks was worth the trauma. I started working with Joe Alves, Jaws'  production designer, and had a lot of contacts for the actual Jaws crew world through my friends who were big Jaws collectors. I decided I would need a boat, because the Orca would feature heavily into that project. So I purchased the Lydia , a work boat very similar to the Orca . But with the pandemic crisis, everything on Making the Monster  came to a screeching halt."

"I wanted to take this boat and give it a whole new goal, which is to be a research expedition vessel for Greg Skomal, who is kind of the Matt Hooper of Cape Cod, who is chomping at the bit to get out on the boat and do tagging of sharks," he added. "And to provide education for kids on Martha’s Vineyard about sharks with whatever research we’re able to acquire. So we’re evolving the mission of the Orca from a shark-hunting and killing machine to an understanding and educational vessel so kids can be safe or at least feel empowered with the education instead of just using movies or TV as a guide to what to believe about them."

Bigelow and his team are trying to raise a minimum of $150,000 via their crowdfunding effort, aptly named “Return of the Orca .” The donated monies will be targeted for materials, rebuilding labor costs, mooring, maintenance, winterization, insurance, and various overhead expenses.

"So we did an Indiegogo campaign and there are some cool perks," he noted. "I made a close connection to Erik Hollander, who was the writer/director of The Shark Is Still Working , one of the greatest making-of Jaws documentaries out there. He’s a really talented artist and his logo was seen on the movie poster for Meg . So he created this logo for Return of the Orca  that is just gorgeous. We slapped it on a poster, we put it on t-shirts, we’re throwing it on a hat, and we’re also making a behind-the-scenes DVD about the production process of the Orca III build."

Credit: David Bigelow - Orca III Mockup

For more info on this seaworthy restoration project to clone the Orca to benefit shark conservation and education, visit their Indiegogo page HERE .

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Orca: The (Brief) Tale of a Famous Lobster Boat

NEW ENGLAND—Spoiler alert: the 25-foot behemoth of a shark in “Jaws” dies at the end of the film – but not before it destroyed Orca , the small fishing boat attempting to wrangle the sea menace just off the coast of the fictional Amity Island. We all know the shark in “Jaws” wasn’t real – but did you know the destroyed Orca was actually a replica?

There were two Orcas on the set of “Jaws” – Orca I was the actual wooden fishing (lobster) boat featured throughout most of the film, and Orca II , a fiberglass replica seen during the final act (when she was pummeled and destroyed by the mechanical shark).

Orca I , a 29-foot trawler, was originally known as Warlock . She was used as a lobster boat in the New England area. The “Jaws” production team purchased Warlock from Marblehead, Massachusetts, according to Bangor Daily News .

“This is the boat used in most of the regular fishing scenes,” the Bangor Daily News article on Orca I and II stated. “But when you see a boat that’s sinking or being destroyed, that’s Orca 2 .”

Orca II was not equipped with an engine. She did have a few breakaway sterns, though, and was prominently featured when the mechanical shark landed on her back and ate Capt. Quint alive.

Orca I , meanwhile, made it back to Universal Studios after filming and was sold to an L.A.-area fisherman (before the film was released, according to Bangor Daily News ). Universal Studios reportedly purchased Orca I back from the fisherman shortly after “Jaws” became a summer blockbuster hit – at a price significantly higher than what the studio sold it for prior to the film’s release.

What happened to Orca II ? Here’s what the IMDb.com page on “Jaws” says about the replica:

“After filming, the second Orca , used for the sinking scenes, was left on … the beach along the estuary across from the town of Menemsha. The boat remained a minor attraction over the years, but without security much of it was vandalized by souvenir hunters, and storms and lack of maintenance soon destroyed most of the structure. As of 2019, most of the boat is buried, with only the skeleton and part of the stern remaining visible. The spot is easily accessible to boaters.”

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The Best 'Jaws' Sequel Is the One That Didn’t Get Made

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The Big Picture

• Jaws 2 was originally a darker, character-focused sequel with a more sinister storyline.
• Universal wanted Jaws 2 to be lighter, rejecting the darker version crafted by Hancock and Tristan.
• The Jaws sequels faced creative challenges, leading to mixed results and a decline in quality.

The impact Jaws had on the movie industry cannot be understated. Not only did it introduce audiences to director Steven Spielberg , it changed the way movies are made and marketed, and is often credited with starting the summer blockbuster trend . Of course, with such an impactful hit, Universal Studios was eager to dive back into the waters of Amity Island, in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle (or a giant, lucrative fish) twice.

But perhaps with multiple Jaws movies , we were biting off more than we could chew. Jaws 3-D baffled audiences and Jaws: The Revenge is generally considered one of the worst movies ever made . Jaws 2 does have fan approval, often thought of as the only good follow-up to the original, though it is largely a simplified re-hash of what came before it. That being said, an early version of the film took a much darker approach to the story , one that is far more interesting than any of the sequels that were made.

In the suspenseful sequel to Jaws, the seaside community of Amity finds itself under threat once more when a new great white shark begins terrorizing the waters. With the town's economy still recovering from the previous attacks, it falls to Chief Brody to convince the skeptical townsfolk of the danger and stop the shark before it claims more victims.

Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' Had a Rough Production

After the monumental success that was Jaws , it was only a matter of time before Universal greenlit a sequel. The studio had initially reached out to director Steven Spielberg in hopes that he would return for another outing on Amity Island, but he refused. Entertainment Weekly recalls a quote from Spielberg: "I would have done the sequel if I hadn't had such a horrible time at sea on the first film." With the original creative's refusal to return , the studio not only had to find a new director, it had to figure out a new story. For a time, the studio was set on John D. Hancock , who had gained esteem for his work on the 1973 film, Bang the Drum Slowly . According to the New York Times , Hancock was approached by producers to helm the film. Hancock's wife, Dorothy Tristan , worked on the script and the two crafted a much bleaker Amity Island.

Under the supervision of the Academy Award nominated director , Jaws 2 sought to make a new shark only a part of Amity Island's problem , with the impact of the first film still plaguing the community. Shady characters, paranoia, and the original cast of teens found their already existing problems only heightened by the terror of the new watery adversary. But after production had already gotten under way, Universal Studios had other ideas that would not only get Hancock's version waterlogged, but would lead to yet another troubled shark shoot, just when everyone thought it was safe to go back into the cinematic water.

'Jaws 2' Was Originally a Much Darker Movie

Hancock and Tristan's script saw a very different season for the island , its reputation tarnished from the events of 1975. In a video interview with Daily Jaws , Hancock revealed that an even more unhinged Chief Brody ( Roy Scheider ) is also trying to come to terms with that summer. The character is experiencing nightmares that include that of his own death at the hands of a shark. His son, Mike, and his friend Andy, are bullied by Reese Vaughn, son of infamous Mayor Vaughn ( Murray Hamilton ). Reese has no respect for anyone outside of himself, and would become something of a local menace , continuing the Broady/Vaughn feud into the next generation.

In continuing the "new generation" tradition, another newcomer would have been a character known as "Sideburns." The son of USS Indianapolis survivor , Quint ( Robert Shaw ), has to come to the island to collect his father's reward for his part in killing the original shark. Meanwhile, a businessman named Boyle comes to town in hopes of buying Quint's old shack to open up a shark-based tourist trap. Len Petersen, a character who made it into the version that got made ( Joseph Mascolo ), meanwhile, is a shady developer, looking to take advantage of Amity's poverty. Other elements included an organized crime storyline (a reference to the original novel), and a greater sense of anxiety for most of the characters.

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In this version of the script, Jaws 2 is a much more character-driven piece , but, of course, it's not Jaws without a shark. This time, the toothy villain is pregnant and nearing birth. Like the finished film, there was a cruising culture among the young people. Mike and Andy find themselves in the shark's path, and, after the shark acquires quite a body count , it's up to Brody, Boyle, and Petersen to save the teens. Similar to the first movie, the shark is able to pick off one of the three "heroes," when Brody and Boyle are knocked overboard, with Boyle becoming the shark's final victim. The shark itself met a much more grizzly fate this time , with Petersen dropping two engines and turning on the propellors, and churning the shark to death. The day is once again saved (for the time being). Despite the script being an expanded version of the original, however, Universal had a few issues with the script.

The Studio Wanted ‘Jaws 2’ To Be a Lighter Movie

At their best, sequels expand on the world and characters that made the original great. At their worst, they completely miss the point of what made the first film so fantastic to begin with. In the case of Jaws 2 , Universal wanted something more like the original and lighter than what Hancock and Tristan's version offered, according to the Daily Jaws. This wasn't the first concept for the film that had been rejected. The Making of Jaws 2 documentary, available to view on the sequel's DVD, recalls that Sackler had originally pitched the sequel as a prequel, and would have focused on Quint's time aboard the Indianapolis. Jaws producer, David Brown , said that the film was "Too far from the mothership."

Ultimately, Universal felt the same about Hancock and Tristan's version. The Sarasota Journal says that Hancock was removed as director after only a month of shooting due to his differences with the studio. However, some of his fingerprints can still be seen in the finished film, in particular a shot often considered one of the picture's best. The iconic and eerie arrival of the shark to Amity was the work of Hancock. On a dark, uneasy evening, the boats in the harbor sway as the shark passes beneath them, its dorsal fin rising from the depths as it closes in on the unsuspecting island. The shot is indeed frightening and is a small glimpse into the world that would have been Hancock's Jaws 2 .

The 'Jaws' Sequels Have Always Been in Choppy Waters

This would not be the last time Universal changed the fate of a Jaws film. Producers Brown and Richard D. Zanuck had initially pitched the third entry into the series as a parody written by John Hughes called Jaws 3, People 0 . Universal, however, felt such an outing would "Foul the nest," according to Brown in the Jaws 2 documentary. Reflecting upon Jaws 3-D (in which neither Brown nor Zanuck were involved), Brown said: "We should have fouled the nest." The franchise would only survive on for one more film, Jaws: The Revenge . A financial and critical failure, the film currently holds a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes . In a sort of victory, however, Hancock and Tristan's version lived on in the novelization by Hank Searls . The book was more influenced by that earlier version, including many of the more character-based elements.

A success at the box office and with most fans, Jaws 2 encouraged Universal to continue the franchise, even though it would eventually drown with fans and critics alike. The version conceived by Hancock and Tristan, however, was a much more involved and dark film, focusing greatly on the characters both familiar and new, and expanding the world of Jaws in a different and more sinister way. Ultimately, Universal sought something more akin to a lighter version of the original. Though it was mainly a rehash of what came before, the legacy of Amity Island and the sharks that stalk it live on in the minds of movie goers whenever they step into the water.

Filmmakers Considered Making ‘Jaws 2’ a Prequel

Hancock’s version of Jaws 2 wasn’t the only one that didn’t get made. Prior to Hancock being brought on to the project, one of the most important members of Jaws ’ production team had an idea that had the potential to not only be an incredible installment to the franchise, but is perhaps one of the most intriguing films never made . According to The Jaws 2 Log , a production diary-style book, designed and published to give readers a behind the scenes look at how the movie was made, writer Howard Sackler was tasked with drafting the very first version of the script. Sackler was a very important name in Jaws -lore, but one with which many are unfamiliar. He had been responsible for drafting what would become Quint’s famous U.S.S. Indianapolis speech. While actor Robert Shaw famously refined the final version, Sackler decided to go uncredited for his contributions. His decision is jarring, considering that, by today’s standards, the sequence is considered one of the finest dramatic scenes in cinematic history , and played a pivotal role in salvaging the production of Jaws . The documentary, The Shark is Still Working proclaims that filming the scene helped transition Jaws from a monster movie to prestigious film. However, Sackler’s involvement with Quint’s tale wasn’t going to end there.

As The Jaws 2 Log , he’d envisioned Jaws 2 as a prequel. He wrote a treatment for the film that followed Quint’s time on the Indianapolis. The story would have detailed the attack on the vessel and the fight to survive against an ocean filled with sharks. The war movie meets sharksploitation feature was certainly unlike anything that had been done at the time, and even intrigued studio head, Sid Sheinberg. But the Universal executive ultimately decided to pass on the project. He wasn’t the only one who decided against the idea. As producer David Brown stated in The Making of Jaws 2 featurette, the creatives felt that it was “too far from the mothership.” Indeed, the studio and producers wanted something more in the vein of Jaws , which is what they would eventually end up with, albeit in a more simplified fashion.

Hancock’s Version of ‘Jaws 2’ Found Life in Publication

Like its predecessor, Jaws 2 had a massive marketing campaign . Universal had capitalized on the first film’s success with loads of merchandise , and followed suit with the sequel, releasing a slew of tie-in materials. In addition to The Jaws 2 Log , two other literary pieces were published: a novelization of Jaws 2 and Marvel Super Special #6 from Marvel Comics. Interestingly, both took elements from Hancock’s original script.

The original cover for the Jaws 2 novel, penned Hank Searels , actually credits Sackler and Tristan’s script. Of course, neither Sackler, Hancock, or Tristan’s version of Jaws 2 was filmed, but the book was released several months before the film, meaning Searels was working with the original script to create the book, and not the finished version. It doesn’t take long to spot the jarring differences either. In the book, Amity is a ghost town, and Mayor Vaughn is working with the mafia. There are several other callbacks to Hancock’s version as well, including the revelation that the shark is a pregnant female. She gives birth at one point, which leads to the violent death of a baby seal. In a soap opera-style twist, it is also revealed that the shark is the mate of the great white from Jaws . While its unclear if the killer shark romance was a part of the script, all in all, the book keeps Hancock’s original vision alive and canon within the world of the Jaws literature.

Marvel Super Special #6 also honored the earlier stories. Similarly to the novelization, the comic opens with a struggling Amity. Early pages set the events three years after the events of the first film. The book introduces Chief Brody as he “speeds to a battleground in Amity’s fight to recover.” As Marvel’s Amity struggles to rebuild, many of the political elements from the original script are once again present. Adapting the earlier version’s more bleak human elements wasn’t the comic’s only bold departure from the original film. It also took darker liberties with the shark. If there’s one thing Marvel Comics does better than anyone else, it’s creating great villains , and the publication’s version of the sharks is the most deadly. The comic portrays her as a bloodthirsty, malevolent killer from its very first panel. The kills are even bloodier than they are in the film and takes the “mindless eating machine” trope to new heights as it quite literally devours its victims.

Jaws 2 is available to stream on Max in the U.S.

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Hampton Nautical "Jaws" Orca Model Fishing Boat - Fully Assembled (Not a Kit) , brown

Brand	Handcrafted Nautical Decor
Color	Brown
Theme	Fishing,Shark,Nautical
Cartoon Character	Pirate
Item dimensions L x W x H	20 x 6 x 17 inches

About this item

• Handcrafted wooden fishing boat model
• Amazing Details accurate to the Orca fishing boat
• A must-have for fans of the film Jaws

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Brand	Handcrafted Nautical Decor
Color	Brown
Theme	Fishing,Shark,Nautical
Cartoon Character	Pirate
Item dimensions L x W x H	20 x 6 x 17 inches
Material	Wood
Seasons	All Seasons
Item Weight	2 Pounds
Number of Pieces	1
Paint Type	Decorative
Style	Tropical
Special Feature	Fully Assembled
Art Craft Kit Type	Fishing Boat Model
UPC	632963580291 849029007672
Global Trade Identification Number	00849029007672
Manufacturer	Handcrafted Model Ships LLC
Product Dimensions	20 x 6 x 17 inches
Item Weight	2 pounds
ASIN	B00IPLPOM0
Item model number	Orca 20
Manufacturer recommended age	5 years and up
Customer Reviews	4.3 out of 5 stars
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Date First Available	November 25, 2009

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Product Description

Inspired by the fishing boat and shark hunting boat Orca, famous from the Steven Spielberg film Jaws starring Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss, this is a fine-crafted model fishing boat replica. Handcrafted Nautical Decor is the premier manufacturer of the world's finest model boats, nautical decorations and tropical & beach decor. Whether you are looking for stunningly accurate models of historical ships like the Titanic or Blackbeard's pirate ship, or you're looking for nautical replicas, gifts and decor such as compasses, world globes, porthole mirrors, model sailboats, ships in a bottle, or brass spyglass & telescopes, Handcrafted Nautical Decor provides the highest quality expertly handcrafted nautical gifts at wholesale prices. Their extensive product line of model ships, nautical decorations & gifts includes trendy tropical, sailing and beach decor, as well as supplies and decor for your home or nautical-themed party. Handcrafted Nautical Decor products are designed by master artisans and crafted from the finest materials available; their fully assembled model ships and decorative items make great gifts for all ages and will be a stunning addition to your home or office.

From the manufacturer

Since 1954, Hampton Nautical is the premier designer and manufacturer of the finest wholesale nautical decor, wholesale cast iron and wholesale Oars & Paddles.

Hampton Nautical provides high quality wholesale home decor and wholesale Oars & Paddles.

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• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 61% 23% 8% 2% 6% 61%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 61% 23% 8% 2% 6% 23%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 61% 23% 8% 2% 6% 8%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 61% 23% 8% 2% 6% 2%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 61% 23% 8% 2% 6% 6%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

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Customers say

Customers like the details, authenticity, and appearance of the art craft kit. For example, they mention it's a great little replica, looks fantastic, and has a rustic feel. That said, opinions are mixed on quality and value.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers are satisfied with the detail of the art craft kit. They mention that it has great design, is excellent for a model subject with fine detail, and is a nice model of the Jaws Orca boat. They also say that it is amazing realistic and a superb display piece.

"I was very happy with the model and the design and details ...." Read more

"...While the boat model is great , the way its inside the box is bad...." Read more

" Excellent choice for A model subject Fine detail " Read more

"...Even still, there were parts I had to glue back on. The model itself has great detail , but very cheaply made...." Read more

Customers like the authenticity of the art craft kit. They say it's an absolutely phenomenal piece, an awesome boat, and a great model for the true Jaws fan. They also say it has great detail and is better than advertised.

"...Great detail and was better than advertised ." Read more

"...The Boat is great , just what I was after, while I'm pretty sure it's not an exact scale model it looks fantastic...." Read more

"The orca is a great boat , very detailed, and very attractive" Read more

" Great little replica to add to a display case" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the art craft kit. They mention that it looks fantastic, is a fine display piece, and has a rustic feel.

"...Otherwise, it was exceptional. It is a very nice size and Gorgeous , guys...." Read more

"... It is still pretty ! Just be prepared to fix it." Read more

"...It is also not at all an exact replica. All that being said, it looks cool , the pieces were easy enough to stick back on, and I'm happy with it -..." Read more

"...to get, and while not being totally accurate, it really is a great looking model ." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the size of the art craft kit. They mention it's unique and impressive at an impressive 20".

"...Otherwise, it was exceptional. It is a very nice size and Gorgeous, guys...." Read more

"...But it was larger than I thought it would be, a good size , and beautifully orientated on its stand. My significant other loves it!" Read more

"...At an impressive 20", its scale , crafting and detailing are of superior quality. The multi-tone wood finish gives it a rustic feel...." Read more

"...one in movie, but overall, a very nice already assembled model at a good size ." Read more

Customers are mixed about the quality of the art craft kit. Some mention they are satisfied with the boat craftsmanship and the fine details, while others say it is very delicate and fragile. Some say the surround was missing and had apparently broken off.

"I was very happy with the model and the design and details...." Read more

"...Second time was not the charm, the same smaller piece was broken , but I glued it on and kept it since I don't want to play games with Amazon for..." Read more

"...It came nice and secure in the package and you can see absolutely every single detail it is an exact replica made from nice wood...." Read more

" Arrived with light broke , one life preserver off, screw and pole off one side... I can fix that...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the value of the art craft kit. Some mention it's worth the money, affordable, and superb display piece, while others say it'd be better off buying a different kit.

"...I found it a bit pricey but worth it's weight . The boom comes off but the door doesn't close. That was interesting to me...." Read more

"...but you really got to be a for real Charles fan because it is a bit pricey ...." Read more

"...An affordable and superb display piece!" Read more

"...It is perhaps a little expensive but then again I've no real idea how much boat models sell for in general." Read more

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LEGO's new Jaws set is a must-have for fans

Not just A shark, THE shark.

LEGO Jaws release date: How to buy LEGO Jaws set

Lego jaws build: how many times can you rewatch jaws, lego jaws verdict.

You're going to need a bigger boat display case, as LEGO has launched its new Jaws set , following its reveal on July 4 (when else?) with a 90-second mini-remake of Steven Spielberg's classic.

The new set was originally conceived by LEGO fan Johnny Campbell. It joins other movie-inspired sets in the LEGO Ideas range, including the Sanderson Sisters' cottage from Hocus Pocus and the Home Alone house .

But is the new Jaws set a must-have for fans? As one such fan, I got my hands on the new set and built it, soundtracked by John Williams' iconic score as I rewatched Jaws to give myself an immersive experience.

(Don't fancy Jaws ? We've got you covered with the best Star Wars LEGO sets , the best Marvel LEGO sets , the best Disney LEGO sets and just the best LEGO deals around.)

LEGO Jaws (LEGO 21350)

Jaws key specs

Pieces	1,497
Minifigures	3
Dimensions	35cm x 20cm x 59cm

LEGO Jaws features

The LEGO Jaws set contains 1,497 pieces, which are spread across 13 bags – now in LEGO's sustainable paper bags – with four base pieces packaged separately, which you won't need until the final stages of the build.

When displayed together, the set measures 35cm high at its tallest point, which is the mast of the Orca. The base is 59cm wide and 20cm deep, but you could save space by displaying the boat and the shark separately.

The LEGO Jaws set also comes with three minifigures of police chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper and shark hunter Sam Quint, along with various accessories such as a harpoon, a fishing rod and a camera.

There's more than enough variety to recreate any Jaws scene you want, even if the final look of the set is modelled on the third-act showdown between Bruce and the Orca crew.

The LEGO Jaws set is available to buy right now after being released on August 3 on the official LEGO store.

Currently, you have to be a LEGO Insiders member to buy the set, but it's free to sign up, and you can earn points with every purchase. You can then use those points towards rewards and also get access to exclusive offers.

If you don't want to sign up, the LEGO Jaws set goes on general release on Tuesday, August 6.

Be warned, though, it's common for LEGO sets to sell out during the Insiders phase, such as with the Barad-dûr set , meaning you might be in for a longer wait.

When you're building one of cinema's most famous sharks, as well as one of its most iconic boats, then it's only right that you rewatch Jaws while you do it – if only to get John Williams' iconic theme giving you a sense of peril and urgency.

The set is built in three sections: the boat, the base (and tail) for Bruce and then the body of Bruce. You can slot the body of Bruce onto the tail to display him separately or – once you've built the base with bags 12 and 13 – you can attach the body of Bruce to the base.

There are 374 steps in total. One rewatch of Jaws put me near the end of the Orca build, minus all its extra details on the deck such as Quint's fishing chair, before a second rewatch of Jaws took me until nearly the end of the entire build.

I was just starting to put in all the details on the base – which is quite a long and somewhat challenging process, as there are a lot of similar parts – when Bruce was blown up for a second time during my LEGO build.

You could then go for a third watch, but I chose to watch the making-of documentary on the 45th anniversary 4K re-release of the movie.

Overall, it took four hours and 45 minutes to build, with roughly 20 minutes per bag. Certain sections took longer, though, such as when you have to fill in elements on the bottom of the boat where you have to take more care, as you can easily break parts off.

It's generally a straightforward build, especially for Bruce, but the boat has various fiddly aspects. There are elements, such as the mast, that feel quite fragile so expect to have to rebuild some parts, even if you're ultra-cautious during the build.

It's worth it, though, as the set has been immaculately designed to be a near-perfect replica of the boat from Jaws . There are still the fun LEGO details you expect, too, including a newspaper that's already reporting on the Orca shark attack.

What will be pleasing for LEGO fans is that while there are still some stickers to apply for some details, the set also features several printed bricks – such as the Orca nameplate – that just look more impressive than a stuck-on sticker (plus, no more worries about getting it just in the centre of the brick).

You can also remove the roof to the cabin to see the details inside, but once the mast and rigging are on, this proves a little tricky. Luckily, there are windows to the cabin, which you can fully open to see inside clearly enough.

Here's an earlier photo during the build before the roof goes on so you can see the detail:

Once the boat and Bruce are built, you can display them together, but it's worth noting that the boat merely rests on the base over a well-placed circular brick in the corner, rather than fixing to it.

So if you are displaying it all together, you'll probably want to position the base first – which you can attach the shark to – and then place the boat in its slightly diagonal position.

Once it's all built, you can also create your own fun by recreating Quint's gruesome demise or try out different LEGO minifigures on the set.

In a moment that made me smile more than it probably should have, I thought Gollum (from the Barad-dûr set ) should have a go catching some delicious fishes.

While it's not cheap at £129.99 (although cheaper than previous movies-themed Ideas sets), the LEGO Jaws set is a must-have for fans of the movie, as it recreates the classic final act in terrific detail.

The versatility of the set is a bonus, as it makes for an impressive display when placed together – you can also display Bruce separately if you want to see him in his full glory. (Equally, you could get rid of the base completely, but the boat doesn't have a level base so could be tricky to display.)

There will be moments during the build where you qill wish it was a bit simpler, but there's nothing here that should particularly challenge an experienced LEGO builder. The result is worth any such hassle, though.

Pieces	1,497
Minifigures	3
Dimensions	35cm x 20cm x 59cm

LEGO's Jaws set is available to buy now for LEGO Insiders members, with general sale from August 6.

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Movies Editor, Digital Spy  Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor.  Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies , attending genre festivals around the world.   After moving to Digital Spy , initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.  

.css-15yqwdi:before{top:0;width:100%;height:0.25rem;content:'';position:absolute;background-image:linear-gradient(to right,#51B3E0,#51B3E0 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 2.5rem,#E5ADAE 5rem,#E5E54F 5rem,#E5E54F 7.5rem,black 7.5rem,black);} LEGO

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Coastal cruising is here and growing: 'A natural transition for any river cruiser'

• Coastal cruising is one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments.
• Coastal ships have a shallow draft that enables them to dock in small harbors without ferrying their passengers ashore on tenders.
• American Cruise Lines plans to grow its fleet to 12 coastal cruise ships in the coming years as part of its “Project Blue” series.

EDGARTOWN, Mass. – “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

A terrified Chief Brody uttered one of the most memorable quotes in American cinematic history in the 1975 thriller “Jaws,” a watershed movie filmed here on Martha’s Vineyard , an affluent island 7 miles south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Chief Brody’s panicked assertion was true if you’re trying to catch and kill a 25-foot great white shark with a ravenous appetite for sun-seeking beachgoers. 

But when it comes to exploring the small towns, bays and inlets off the coastline of Cape Cod – and other coastal regions in the United States – bigger boats are about as useful as a rod and reel in trying to ensnare a horrifying 3-ton sea monster in Steven Spielberg's movie.

What is considered coastal cruising?

Coastal cruising is one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments. It involves sailing on small ships – typically carrying 100-200 guests – close enough to shore that passengers can see land throughout the voyage. The segment is geared toward older, well-heeled Americans who want to stay fairly close to home while visiting less touristy ports that the big ships can’t reach.

Coastal ships have a shallow draft that enables them to dock in small harbors without ferrying their passengers ashore on tenders. They offer the convenience and intimacy of riverboats coupled with the versatility and stability to sail in the open seas. On some itineraries, they also traverse rivers, lakes and canals.

I recently sailed on a one-week coastal cruise around Cape Cod on the 100-passenger “catamaran-inspired” American Eagle. The four-deck ship was christened in August 2023 and is part of the fleet of American Cruise Lines , the largest river cruise line in the U.S. that is rapidly expanding into coastal cruising.

The Connecticut-based company isn’t just dipping its toes in the coastal cruising market. It has seven coastal cruise ships on the water, with plans for two more ships to begin sailing by the end of the year and two more to launch in 2025. Its newest vessel, American Liberty, will take its inaugural voyage on Thursday from Providence, Rhode Island, visiting several ports in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

“Our newest small ships allow guests to cruise within sight of land and enjoy the same atmosphere found aboard our riverboats, making our coastal itineraries a natural transition for any river cruiser,” said Charles B. Robertson, American Cruise Lines’ president and CEO, whose father founded the company in 1972.

American Cruise Lines owns its own shipyard in Maryland’s Eastern Shore and all of its ships are U.S.-flagged, which allows for itineraries that don’t include a foreign stop. An American law requires foreign-flagged ships sailing in U.S. waters to stop in at least one non-U.S. port of call.

Besides New England, other U.S. coastal itineraries include the Chesapeake Bay with port stops in Maryland and Virginia, a Southeast cruise that visits Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, GA., trips around the coastline of Florida, the Puget Sound in Washington and Alaska’s Inside Passage.  American Cruise Lines also owns Pearl Seas Cruises, which has one coastal ship – the 210-passenger foreign-flagged Pearl Mist – now sailing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada.  

Rates for coastal cruises are comparable to high-end river cruises and can get pricey. Depending on the cruise line and what amenities are included – like roundtrip air, a pre-cruise hotel, an open bar onboard and shore excursions – fares can easily exceed $1,000 per person per day.  A high percentage of cabins on coastal ships come with private balconies.   

All told, American Cruise Lines plans to grow its fleet to 12 coastal cruise ships in the coming years as part of its “Project Blue” series.  Add that its stable of 10 riverboats plying the Mississippi, Columbia, Snake and other U.S. rivers, and the cruise line says it now has a footprint in 35 states.

Cape Codder cruise ports: Provincetown, Plymouth

The Cape Codder cruise on the American Eagle started and ended in Boston Harbor. The itinerary offered a chance to become immersed in the history related to the Pilgrims’ arrival in the New World in 1620 aboard the Mayflower and their encounters with the Wampanoag people, who have been living in New England for more than 12,000 years.

We reached our first port, Provincetown, on the northern tip of Cape Cod, just four hours after leaving Boston. I had thought the Pilgrims first landed at Plymouth Rock, but they actually spent five weeks in Provincetown before settling in Plymouth, about 80 miles west across Cape Cod Bay.

Provincetown, known as a boisterous party town, has a year-round population of less than 4,000 that swells to 60,000 during the summer. I climbed the Pilgrim Monument for a spectacular view of the town and harbor. A museum at the monument has a replica of the landmark Mayflower Compact. Signed by the Pilgrims in Provincetown Harbor, the compact is the first document to establish self-government in the New World.

In Plymouth I toured a full-scale reproduction of the Mayflower, the ship which brought 102 Pilgrims from England to America.  Their arduous journey across the Atlantic took 66 days.  From the American Eagle, I walked to the nearby Plymouth Rock, where some believe the Pilgrims first set foot in the New World.  While there is no historical evidence to confirm that, the rock remains an important symbol representing the determination of the nation's early settlers.

We also visited Plimoth Patuxet, a living museum that features a recreated 17th-century Pilgrim village. There are “historical interpreters” dressed as Pilgrims at the site, who interact with visitors as if it were 1627. They stay in character, so it’s best not to ask – as I made the mistake of doing – if the site had Wi-Fi.

Next up: Buzzards Bay, Hyannis, Newport RI

From the port of Buzzards Bay, I took an excursion to Hyannis to visit the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, which showcases the Kennedy family’s deep connection to Cape Cod. The Kennedys had several summer homes in nearby Hyannis Port. The compound, closed to visitors, is still the home of Ethel Kennedy, the 96-year-old widow of Robert F. Kennedy.

It's hard to find a place in America that oozes more money than Newport, R.I., known for its rich sailing history and grandiose homes. 

By the turn of the 20th century, many of the nation’s wealthiest families – including the Vanderbilts and Astors – built summer houses in Newport. Today, mansions are owned by the likes of Jay Leno, Judge Judy and billionaire software-magnate Larry Ellison. 

Martha's Vineyard, where 'Jaws' was filmed

The island of Martha’s Vineyard, often called “The Vineyard,” is another popular summer hangout for the rich and famous. 

We visited Edgartown, a town that took on the stage name of “Amity” during the filming of “Jaws.” We also stopped by the spectacular Aquinnah Cliffs – with its colorful clay cliffs carved by glaciers – on the northwestern tip of the island.

As for sharks, it turned out that it was indeed safe to go back in the water again. The only sharks I encountered on the cruise were emblazoned on T-shirts and other souvenirs in Martha’s Vineyard gift shops.   

Cape Cod travel tips

American Cruise Lines:  www.americancruiselines.com .

Pearl Seas Cruises: www.pearlseascruises.com .

Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism:  www.visitma.com .

Dan Fellner of Scottsdale is a freelance travel writer. Contact him at  [email protected]  or visit his website at  DanFellner.com .    

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

Bleak photo of polar bear with plastic in its jaws in the remote Arctic shows pollution's 'pervasive grip'

Image of polar bear with plastic hanging from its mouth shortlisted for Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 award.

An image capturing a polar bear with plastic hanging from its jaws has been shortlisted for the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 award. The image, taken on Kiepert Island in the Svalbard archipelago off Norway, by photonaturalist Celia Kujala serves as a "a stark reminder that even the uninhabited reaches of the Arctic are not exempt from the pervasive grip of plastic pollution ," competition representatives wrote in a statement emailed to Live Science.

The photograph is shortlisted in the Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact) category, which also includes a photo of a dead fin whale waiting to be butchered at a facility in Iceland, shark fins drying on a roof in Indonesia and a gannet, a large white seabird with a yellowish head, trapped in discarded fishing gear hanging from a cliff.

The polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) photograph highlights the scale of plastic pollution in the Arctic and the impact it has on regional species. Considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, polar bears face multiple threats. A 2016 study predicts their numbers will fall by 30% by the middle of the century.

Climate change is the primary threat, reducing the sea ice on which they hunt. However, plastic is compounding the problem. Polar bears are increasingly turning to landfills for food . An analysis of polar bear stomach contents from the population in the Southern Beaufort Sea off Alaska and Canada found 28% contained plastic . Half of the bears that had eaten plastic also had acute gastritis, potentially leading to painful blockages in their digestive system.

Related: Polar bear sleeping on tiny iceberg drifting in Arctic sea captured in heartbreaking photo

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"There are not enough data to get a clear picture, but it is probable that bears are more likely to ingest plastic when they find human trash as they seek food on shore," John Whiteman , chief research scientist at Polar Bears International and assistant professor of biology at Old Dominion University in Virginia, told Live Science in an email.

"Sea ice loss, and the resulting increase in time spent on land, is making it ever more important to find safe, long-term ways to manage trash — an issue that multiple Arctic communities have tackled with success," he added.

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The winners of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024, presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain , will be announced on Sept. 12. Shortlisted images for the Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact) category can be seen below.

Hannah Osborne is the planet Earth and animals editor at Live Science. Prior to Live Science, she worked for several years at Newsweek as the science editor. Before this she was science editor at International Business Times U.K. Hannah holds a master's in journalism from Goldsmith's, University of London.

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