WPTV.com is reporting that the increased number of swimmers and surfers at Florida beaches over the Memorial Day holiday weekend statistically increases that chances of a shark attack. The report notes that sharks are migrating north along the Florida peninsula as water temperatures warm along the east coast.

The report also features the typical advice to help reduce the risk of shark attacks, including avoiding swimming at sunrise and sunset, staying in large groups, avoiding splashing, and leaving the water in a non-panicked manner if a shark is spotted.

The famous Guadalupe white shark photo also makes an appearance in the WPTV report.

Australia’s Ten News recently interviewed surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton. The movie “Soul Surfer” which is based on the true story of Hamilton’s “triumph over tragedy” opens in Australia today.

In addition to the movie, Hamilton’s “Soul Surfer” book reached the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestsellers list for Children’s Paperback Books earlier this month, and is currently #3 in that same list.

OnisonArchive has posted a “parody” of sorts about saving sharks. I’m not really sure what Onison is supposed to be, but it reminds me of Dieter from Sprockets. This spoof of shark conservation hits on just about every shark stereotype that one could come up with.

YouTube user WFF0001 recently posted the above video of a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) making an appearance at the Guy Harvey sponsored Bimini Big Game Club Billfish Invitational. The video features some free-divers “hitching a ride” on the shark by hanging on to the shark’s dorsal and caudal fins.

Similar videos in the past have generated debate centered around the “no-touch” philosophy of diving. Some argue that whale sharks don’t appear to be bothered by swimmers and divers “hitching a ride,” based on the fact that the animals don’t immediately try to leave the area when this kind of activity occurs. While whale sharks are also listed as a “vulnerable” species on the IUCN Red List, those with the “no harm, no foul” philosophy that point out that whale sharks are not in any danger of being injured by people “hitching a ride.”

The other side of the argument is that the whale sharks don’t really have a say in the matter and can’t express whether or not they’re bothered by people “riding” them.

If you have an opinion on the “riding whale sharks” debate, feel free to share it in the comments section.

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.