It’s been a while since a horror movie based around killer sharks has seen a major theatrical release in the U.S. (some would argue that’s a good thing). All that will change on September 2 when Relativity Media releases “Shark Night 3D” directed by David R. Elllis.

“Shark Night 3D” is a movie about sharks that will be presented in 3D and will likely have some scenes at night, which is what one should come to expect from a David R. Ellis movie. After all, Ellis brought us that Samuel L. Jackson movie where there were a bunch of snake on a plane (unfortunately, the title of that movie escapes me at the moment).

“Shark Night 3D” looks to feature computer generated sharks much like the ones we saw in “Deep Blue Sea” (which is the last big killer shark horror movie that I can remember catching on the big screen). I noticed at least two species in the trailer, which included the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) and the sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus). Based on the trailer, it seems that somebody is using the sharks as killing machines and has brought them to a salt-water lake for nefarious purposes (no word whether or not Dr. Evil is involved in this scheme).

While I’m sure that some conservationists will cringe at the idea of another horror movie portraying sharks as mindless killing machines, at the end of the day this flick doesn’t look much different to me than a “Friday the 13th” movie. Essentially, it follows the formula of a bunch of teens or 20-somethings heading to the lake for some mischief only to end up getting hacked up (or chewed up, in this case) by a mindless killer. The only difference is that instead of a deranged human in a hockey mask, “Shark Night 3D” is using deranged sharks.

From NOAA:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) encourages the live release of North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) due to overfishing occurring on the population. In order to promote the live release of shortfin mako sharks, NMFS has developed a web page where commercial and recreational fishermen can contribute information about shortfin mako shark releases and populate an interactive web map. The shortfin mako live release web page contains current information on shortfin mako stock status and regulations, along with details on tagging programs and safe handling and release guidelines.

You can find the main shortfin mako live release webpage and web map at the following links.

• NOAA’s Shortfin Mako Main Page
• Live Shortfin Mako Releases Map
• NOAA Press Release

For further information on the web page, or to request outreach materials, please contact the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division by phone at 301-713-2347, or by email at shortfinmako@noaa.gov.

WARNING: Video features coarse language.

A video posted by YouTube user Mikah1992 featuring what is described as a 12-14′ great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) eating a smaller 6′ blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) has been gaining a lot of views on YouTube over the past two weeks.

Part of the “viral appeal” of the video is likely the reactions of the guys on board the boat when the great hammerhead shark comes in for a free meal. According to the video description, the blacktip shark had been hooked for about 15 minutes prior to the arrival of the great hammerhead shark, which was described as being larger than the boat that the video was filmed from.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the California Assembly “overwhelmingly approved” (62-8 vote) a measure that could ban the sale and distribution of shark fins in the state. The bill (AB376) will now move on to the state Senate. If the bill is approved by the Senate, the shark fin ban will take effect on January 1, 2013.

The bill has been somewhat controversial since the ban of shark fins would result in making shark fin soup illegal. The soup is regarded as a Chinese delicacy. Opponents of the bill have claimed that the bill targets Asian cultures unfairly.

Oddly enough, the same day that a modern-day animatronic shark shows up on YouTube, so does a 1976 commercial featuring a shark with some not-so-special effect, courtesy of YouTube user OldTimeSportsFan.

I’m not really sure what the underlying message is behind this Colt 45 commercial (I prefer the Billy Dee Williams era Colt 45 ads, personally). Apparently, if a shark eats your table out in the ocean, a woman will deliver some Colt 45 to you. I’m thinking the advertising minds were trying to cash in the recent success of “Jaws” and just wanted to put a shark in the commercial.

YouTube user AnimatedExtras1 posted this raw-footage of an animatronic great white shark in action underwater. No other details were given in the video description about what this animatronic shark was designed for, but it’s certainly an impressive effort, IMO.

As far as “practical effects” white sharks go, this one puts old Bruce to shame in terms of looking like an actual great white shark.

National Geographic will soon be releasing a new book titled “Deadly Instinct,” which will feature award-winning photography from the National Geographic Image Collection. The book focuses on imagery of predatory animals and their “battle for sustenance and survival.”

As seen in the video above, one of the predatory animals featured in “Deadly Instinct” will be the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). Other predatory animals to be featured in the book included crocodiles and lions, to name a few. “Deadly Instinct” ships on June 01, 2011.

Renowned marine life artist Guy Harvey is encouraging fellow fishermen to join him in promoting shark conservation through the Shark Free Marina Initiative. The program designates members as either shark-free or shark-friendly (catch and release only). In addition to marinas, charters, bait and tackle shops, and restaurants are encouraged to join the initiative.

Members of the Shark Free Marinas Initiative receive free advertising, educational literature about sharks, and signs featuring the artwork of Guy Harvey.

Thanks to Shark Diver’s Underwater Thrills blog for the heads-up on this video.

VOA TV to Africa has posted this news feature about whale shark (Rhincodon typus) conservation efforts in Kenya. While measures have been taken in Kenya to protect whale sharks, it is currently still legal for fisherman to harvest the species.

A fisherman interviewed in the report point out that a whale shark is an attractive catch due to its large liver. Oil from a whale shark’s liver is a valuable commodity for fisherman, and a single whale shark’s liver can last a fisherman multiple years. The report also notes that fins from smaller reef sharks are also a prized commodity. The sale of the fins, meat, and liver of one reef shark can generate enough income to sustain a family for an entire month, according to the report.

The Kenyan-based East African Whale Shark Trust has been promoting the protection of the species through public-awareness campaigns. The campaigns educate the public about the value of the sharks to the environment and to Kenya’s eco-tourism market in hope to decrease the demands for whale shark liver oil.

XOOC, a non-profit marine conservation group based in Mexico, produced the video above, which focuses on the bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) of Mexico’s Playa del Carmen.

Last fall, dozens of Playa’s bull sharks were killed by a local fisherman, who was paid 118,000 pesos (roughly $10,000 USD) for the sharks, according the video. The video also goes on to note that living sharks can bring in up to $300,000 USD dollars in tourism revenue per season. However, the fisherman who caught the sharks, argued that it was more profitable for him to catch and sell the sharks, since it was less dangerous and only required 4 hours of work.

Playa del Carmen had become a popular dive site in recent years and was known as one of the hot spots for diving with bull sharks.

(Note: This video showed up on YouTube yesterday, but was originally posted on Vimeo several months ago.)