Vimeo user Surya P recently added this video, which features some nice whale shark (Rhincodon typus) footage filmed in Indonesia’s Cendrawasih Bay. The video includes a lot close-ups, along with some footage of a couple of whale sharks grabbing a snack from fishing nets.

Great white sharks presenting an “imminent” threat could be targeted by WA Department of Fisheries.

Australia’s Herald Sun reports that a shark mitigation plan unveiled by the Western Australian government includes $2 million allotted to “track, catch, and destroy sharks” that are found in close proximity to swimmers. Norman Moore, the Fisheries Minister, said the plan now calls for “proactive” measures in the event that large white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) present an “imminent” threat to people.

The government plan was announced in response to a spate of shark attacks, that have occurred in Western Australian waters over the span of ten months. Five of the attacks were fatal.

In addition to the “track, catch, and destroy” program, $2 million is also being allocated to GPS-based tracking programs, with another $2 million being added to a research fund over the course of four years. Funding for shark nets was not included in the program. The protective nets have been a source of controversy due to questions about their effectiveness, as well as, the fact that they indiscriminately trap and kill a wide range of marine wildlife.

For more information about the Western Australian shark mitigation plan, check out the full article at the Herald Sun.

Vimeo user CaptainCankles posted the above video, which, according to the video description, shows a 15′ tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) apparently attempting to eat a smaller 7′ tiger shark. The smaller of the two sharks had been hooked by a fisherman prior to the event. The larger shark appears to spit out the smaller shark at the end of the video.

Boston’s WDHD.com has posted a video of last week’s SPOT tagging of a female great white shark in Cape Cod waters. The white shark, nicknamed “Genie” after Dr. Eugenie Clark, was out of the water for 16 minutes during the tagging process. “Genie” was measured at 14′ 8′ in length and weighed in at 2,292 lbs, according to OCEARCH’s profile of the tagged shark.

The SPOT tag will report data each time the shark surfaces. You can follow “Genie” (along with other white sharks tagged in South African waters) online at OCEARCH’s Global Shark Tracker page.

A SPOT tag attached to the dorsal fin of a great white shark.
(photo taken at Isla de Guadalupe)

According to a report from OCEARCH.org, a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) has been fitted with a SPOT tag for the first time in history in North Atlantic waters. The OCEARCH team, working with Dr. Greg Skomal (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries) and Dr. Nick Whitney (Mote Marine Laboratory), successfully tagged a 15-foot (4.5m) female white shark in the waters of Cape Cod. The OCEARCH team is headed up by Chris Fischer who has been featured in the past on National Geographic’s “Shark Men” and “Expedition Great White.”
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Joe Romeiro’s 333 Productions delivers yet another excellently produced shark video. “Legacy” features stock footage of the late “Jaws” author, Peter Benchley, describing the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). While Benchley is most well-known for penning the story that many believe has had a profound impact on how people view the great white shark, he later in life stated that with the knowledge he obtained about sharks he could never demonize an animal in the way that the shark from “Jaws” was portrayed.

“Legacy,” directed by Bill Fisher and narrated by Peter Stacker, features white shark footage shot at Isla de Guadalupe and showcases some of the more recognizable sharks that are return to the island year after year.

The short film was produced in cooperation with Wendy Benchley and Shark Savers.

Los Angeles’ KCAL9 reports that a fisherman reeled in what was described as a “younger” great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) at Manhattan Beach Pier in Los Angeles County, CA. The shark was hooked on Tuesday (September 4, 2012) at around 5PM.

The fisherman called Eric Martin, a local aquarium director, after he that he had hooked “something big.” Martin cut the line to release the shark, which passed a swimmer without incident as it swam off.

WCVB.com reports that the carcass of a 13-foot (4m) male great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) was found washed ashore a Little Compton, Rhode Island beach on Saturday (September 1, 2012). Researchers performed a necropsy on the shark, which was estimated to weigh 1,500 pounds (680kg). However, no signs of trauma were found and cause of death could not be determined.

Officials closed area beaches to swimming on Saturday after the white shark was discovered. However, the beaches re-opened on Sunday, and a police boat was used to patrol the area for signs of any other sharks.

You can read more about the story at WCVB.com

All Fins On LLC recently shared this inspiring video on Vimeo. The video features wounded U.S. Army veteran, Preston Kaplan, diving among a score of sand tiger sharks along with other members of the Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS) program.

According to the video description, Kaplan spent four years recovering from his combat injuries prior to participating in the dive. The SUDS program helps the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded veterans through SCUBA diving activities.

The video was shot off of the coast of Morehead City, NC on August 18, 2012. The are known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” is well-known for its sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus), which congregate around some of the wrecks.

For more information about the program, check out the Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS) website.

NECN reports that east-facing beaches in Chatham, Massachusetts have been closed to swimming due to shark sightings and “increased activity.” A large number of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are currently in the waters of the beaches affected by the closures. The grey seal is a natural prey item for great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), which migrate to the waters of Cape Cod in the summer months.

The beach closures were announced just before the Labor Day holiday weekend, which is one of last big beach weekends of the summer for vacationers in the area.