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.)

Oceana has released a shark-conservation themed PSA featuring actress January Jones swimming alongside a whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The PSA was filmed at the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve off of southern Belize.

Jones stars in the television series “Mad Men” and can be seen in the upcoming film “X-Men: First Class,” in which she will portray Emma Frost. This is the second “Scared for Sharks” PSA that Jones has participated in with Oceana.

Florida’s ABC-7 reports that Fort Myers Beach shrimpers saying they’re seeing more sharks than usual this season. Roger Schmall says that he’s never seen anything like what he’s experiencing this season throughout his 30 year career in the shrimp business. Schmall says that blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) and bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are feeding on his catches and causing damage to his shrimp nets.

Dr. Darren Rumbold says that no research is being conducted to determine whether the shark populations in the area are changing. Rumbold went on to say that it would be worthwhile to study due to the impacts of apex predators on the marine ecosystems.

FischerProductions has recently posted the above video, in which Dr. Michael Domeier disputes the theory that great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) descended from the prehistoric C. megalodon. Domeier says that the latest theory is that white sharks likely descended from mako sharks (genus Isurus).

It is noted that mako sharks were originally ruled out as descendants of white sharks due to modern mako sharks having non-serrated, smooth teeth. The discovery of serrations on the teeth of prehistoric mako sharks brought them into consideration as descendants of white sharks, but it is not specifically explained how this ruled out the C. megalodon as a potential descendant of the white shark.

A more detailed comparison of the two schools of thought on C. megalodon can be found at ElsmoResearch’s Carcharodon versus Carcharocles:
What’s in a Name?

From National Geographic:

The Shark Men are once again in unfamiliar territory; the Sea of Cortez. This time they have a different agenda; they are chasing Amy. Dr. Domeier believes Amy has come to the Sea of Cortez to give birth. The crew soon finds out that this phenomenal region has much more to teach them. They will go on a journey to find the truth behind the great white shark folklore surrounding this area. As the crew uncovers secrets of the Sea of Cortez; the search for Amy continues.

“Shark Men: Deadly Sea” premieres Sunday at 10pm on the National Geographic Channel.

Washington has banned the trade and sale of shark fins.

The Seattle Times is reporting that Washington’s Governor Chris Gregoire has signed a shark fin ban into law. Senate Bill 5688 prohibits the sale or trade of shark fins or shark fin derivatives in the state. The bill passed unanimously in the state Senate and by a vote of 95 to 1 in the House.

Shark fins are primarily used for shark fin soup. The practice of shark finning can involve cut the fins off of live sharks and dumping the rest of the animal back into the sea to drown. Supporters of the bill hope that it will reduce pressure on the world’s shark populations.

According to a Mercury News report, about 50 dead leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) were found in Redwood Shores, California last month. California Department of Fish and Game necropsy results from one of the sharks indicated that the animal had suffered internal bleeding, but biologists have yet to determine the cause of the die-off of the animals.

In addition to the leopard sharks found in Redwood Shores, the Mercury News reports that hundreds of leopard sharks have washed up throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, according to Pelagic Shark Research Foundation.

You can check out the full story at MercuryNews.com.