Shark Diving International recently posted video footage of a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) feeding on a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) off of Mexico’s Isla de Guadalpue. White shark predation events on pinnipeds are somewhat rare around the island, so this footage is definitely worth a look.

Next Media Animation News Direct recently posted a computer generated re-enactment of a story that’s been making headlines recently involving Oregon surfer Doug Niblack “riding” on the back of what Niblack reports was a 10-12′ great white shark. Take the re-enactment for what you will.

ABC News reports that there was no physical evidence to back the report up in terms of bite marks on the board nor photographic evidence which could identify the species involved. However, they did interview Niblack and another surfer who witnessed the encounter.

The Conversation has an interesting article on the history of shark nets in Australia. The article, written by Christopher Neff, focuses primarily on the use of shark nets in the waters of New South Wales and gives a bit of history about how the nets first came to be. Neff also touches on the politics associated with the nets and the effectiveness of them in protecting humans from shark attacks.

Neff questions the effectiveness of shark nets noting that from 1937-2008 of the recorded shark attacks in New South Wales, 63% of them occurred at beaches using shark nets. He also points out that only one fatal attack has occurred at a netted beach in the state, but cautions that associating low fatality rates with the nets might be questionable, as there was a three year period in which the nets were removed and no fatalities were reported.

While the Neff certainly seems to lean in the direction of opposing the nets he admits that the issue of Australia’s shark nets is not a simple matter. Neff stresses the need for public safety measures and points out that the consequences from shark attacks can be “terrible.” However, he notes that public dialog and education are necessary to move away from outdated tactics that are leaving Australia behind.

You can check Neff’s full article at The Conversation.

NBC’s Today show has been fairly prolific with shark-related features over the past few weeks. The show recently interviewed C.J. Wickersham, a 21-year-old spearfisherman who was bitten by a 9′ bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) off Florida’s Anna Maria Island last month.

Wickersham’s friend Connor Bystrum witnessed the bite and immediately jumped in to assist him back to the boat. Once Wickersham was aboard the boat his friends used a rope as a tourniquet. Wickersham was rushed to shore where paramedics were waiting thanks to 911 call from another of his friends on the boat.

Wickersham’s injuries required multiple surgical procedures at St. Petersburg’s Bayfront Medical Center, according to the Anna Maria Islander. He was released from the trauma center after 6 days and is expected to fully recover.

Earth-Touch recently posted some video footage featuring primarily tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). There’s also a few shots of some blacktip sharks mixed in. If you’re in the mood to watch a couple of minutes of shark video footage, this one is worth checking out.

SBS World News Australia recently posted the interview above to YouTube, which features retired NBA star Yao Ming. While the interview covers many topics including Ming’s basketball career as a player and now a club owner, it also touches on environmental issues including pollution and shark conservation. Ming has been outspoken in recent years about shark conservation and has encouraged an end to the consumption of shark fin soup.

Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed the California Shark Protection Act into law.

The L.A. Times is reporting that California governor, Jerry Brown, has signed AB 376 (aka “Shark Protection Act”) into law. The newly signed law prohibits the possession, sale, and trade of shark fins in the State of California. The ban will go into effect on January 1, 2012.

NBC’s “Today” recently interview one of who two divers who was left behind by their dive boat in Florida waters. Divers Paul Kline and Fernando Garcia Puerta surfaced from their second dive of the day only to discover their dive boat, an RJ Diving Ventures charter, had left without the them. The divers clung to a buoy, initially believing that the boat had to leave for emergency reasons and would return to pick them up. However, the boat never returned. Fortunately, a passing yacht spotted the divers over two hours after they had surfaced and picked them up.

The story made headlines last week, and Kline recently spoke to the Today show, along with two of his rescuers. While many reports referred to the divers as being left in “shark-infested” waters, Kline said that they did not see any sharks, although he did tell “Today” that the thought of being attacked by a shark was an issue for both divers. From a psychological standpoint, the thought of shark attacks might seem to weigh the heaviest out of all the threats of being left at sea. However, the divers also faced potential life-threatening scenarios in the forms of possible dehydration, hypothermia, and other exposure-related risks. Fortunately, this story had a happy ending thanks to a chance encounter with a passing yacht and its crew.

Robs441 recently shared the video above on YouTube, which features surface footage of dolphins feeding in South Carolina waters. At around 2:40 a small breaching shark stirs up the action a bit with a “cartwheel” as its noted in the video description.

If any of you shark identification experts can i.d. the shark, feel free to share your expertise in the comments.

A new game based on the “Jaws” franchise is now available for iPad, iPhone, and iPod. “Jaws Revenge” was released yesterday and features classic side-scrolling gameplay. Players will control a rampaging great white shark, and it looks like the theme of the game is to eat, crash into, and/or blow-up everything in sight. Players will also be able to “upgrade” their shark, but alas, it does not seem that you can “frickin laser beams” on the shark’s head as an upgrade.

It appears that nothing in the water or the air is safe in this game, including massive yachts and hang-gliding thrill seekers. Fear not, though, this is just a ridiculous videogame, and the behavior of the ginormous rampaging shark in the game is not representative of actual white shark behavior.

“Jaws Revenge” is on sale now at Apple’s iTunes app store for $0.99.