Groton — It was people, not seals, released into the water Saturday during the Seal Splash at Eastern Point Beach.

They were braving the 29-degree water to raise funds for Mystic Aquarium's Animal Rescue Team, which rescues, rehabilitates and releases sick or injured marine animals, including seals, from the coastline of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Fishers Island, N.Y., and those transferred from other stranding facilities. The team, part of the Greater Atlantic Region Stranding Network, also studies why animals come to shore.

Among the 65 people taking the plunge were Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler and Rob Valenti, president and general manager of the Valenti family of auto dealerships. Both exceeded their $25,000 individual challenge goals, the aquarium said in a news release. The event, in its seventh year, has raised nearly $70,000 for the aquarium's programs, a new record, according to the release.