Yesterday, well-known dive operator Jim Abernathy was bitten on the arm by a lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), according to WPTV.com. The report stated that Abernathy was in “good condition” and required stitches to close-up the wound. Abernathy was bitten 18 miles north of the Bahamas while diving.

Abernathy spoke with WPTV and referred to the shark bite as a “minor incident” and went on to say that it will not deter him from diving with sharks or continuing his mission to help protect sharks. Abernathy hopes to be back in the water within “a few days,” according to the report.

Here’s to a speedy and full recovery for Mr. Abernathy.

The Save Our Seas Foundation recently posted the video above which focuses on the Shark Spotters program in use at beaches in South Africa. The aim of Shark Spotters is to alert beach goers of presence of sharks and potential risks of shark attack. Additionally, Shark Spotters provide data based on shark sightings to the Save Our Seas Foundation.

The Shark Spotters program uses hillside lookout personnel, along with alarms, and series of warning flags to keep swimmers informed and help reduce the chances of shark attacks.

YouTube esguerra1 posted the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) video above. The footage was shot at Maamigili Outer reef off of the southern tip of South Ari Atoll, Maldives, according to the video description.

Kudos to esguerra1 on some nice pro shark media!

KITV.com is reporting that charges have been dismissed against four men who were part of a shark tour operation in Hawaii. The men were charged with illegally feeding sharks within the 3 miles of shore after federal agents posing as tourists witnessed the men feeding sharks within the 3 mile minimum distance from the shore. The agents reportedly used “top secret” GPS devices to determine that the chumming/feeding had taken place within the restricted area from the shore.

When the men went to trial on Thursday, defense lawyers argued that they needed access to the user manuals and training material for the “top secret” devices in order to properly defend their clients. Prosecutors argued that the devices could not be discussed in court, and federal agents maintained that “materials pertaining to the devices” could not be disclosed, because of security issues. The judge dismissed the case with prejudice.

The charge of illegal shark feeding is a petty misdemeanor and carries a fine of up to $1,000 and 30 days in jail.

A recent study has found that orcas off of B.C. feed on Pacific sleeper sharks.

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that a new study shows through DNA evidence that offshore orcas (or killer whales) feed on Pacific sleeper sharks (Somniosus pacificus). The study was recently published in the journal of Aquatic Biology (Vol 11, No. 3).

According to the study, this is the first confirmed prey species of offshore killer whales, as well as the first record of Pacific sleeper sharks being prey items of orcas. Researchers believe that the abrasive skin of the Pacific sleeper shark is wearing the teeth of the orcas flat.

For more about the study, check out the full article at The Vancouver Sun.

According to an article in The Telegraph, research performed by a team from the University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland has revealed that the 17 species of sharks (which included bull sharks and tiger sharks) involved in the study are effectively color blind. Examination of the retinas of the 17 species indicated that only one type of cone was present, which would allow the sharks to only be able to discern shades of light and dark. In comparison, humans have three types of cones which correspond to the ability to distinguish red, green, and blue.

Based on the research, The Telegraph article states that wearing light colored swimwear would reduce contrast with the water, implying that the reduced contrast might result in a decreased chance that a shark would attack. The article also claims that the study “backs up” shark attack statistics which indicate that a “vast majority of attacks happen to divers and surfers wearing black wetsuits.” Unfortunately, the article fails to mention that a vast majority of wetsuits are black, so the probability of a surfer or diver wearing a wetsuit that is black is going to be pretty high regardless of whether they are attacked by a shark or not.

The article goes on to discuss how this finding may be applied to surfing, swimming, and diving apparel. Nathan Hart, the lead author of the study, contends that “brightness contrast is more important for detecting and identifying objects” for the color blind sharks. Additionally, Hart is hopeful this research might be applied to the design of longline fishing hooks to make them less likely to attract sharks and reduce the mortality rates of sharks as a result of longlines.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s exposé on the shark fin industry (and shark fin soup) is now available in its entirety courtesy of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares YouTube channel. Ramsay’s encounters with members of the shark fin trade in Costa Rica were widely reported a few weeks ago. Reports including accounts of Ramsay being doused with gasoline, threatened at gunpoint, and coerced to leave the country provided plenty of extra publicity for Ramsay’s show.

Part 1 of Ramsay’s “The Big Fish Fight” can be seen above. For the rest of the program, follow the links below.

Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait – The Big Fish Fight Part 2
Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait – The Big Fish Fight Part 3
Gordon Ramsay Shark Bait – The Big Fish Fight Part 4

Border Surfriders Association is reporting that a 16-year-old member of their surfing team was bitten by a shark off of Second Beach, Port Saint Johns, South Africa. The victim was able to catch a wave and attempted to reach the shore after the attack. Tragically, he died as a result of blood loss before lifeguards and rescue craft were able to reach him.

According to BSA, this marks the fifth attack (four of which have been fatal) off of Second Beach in the past three years. There was no mention of the species responsible for the attack.

BSA’s Malcome Logie described the victim as “a young guy, full of spirit and always ready for a laugh. He was always willing to help his teammates and enjoyed giving the younger surfers encouragement and advice. Border was looking to him to play a leading role in our team this year. His passing leaves us numb and with a huge sense of loss.”

Wavescape: Surfing South Africa has information about a support fund for the victim’s family and community. The funds collected will be used to help assist with funeral costs and grief counseling for the family and Port St Johns community.

According to the information accompanying this video, this “shark boat” is was built by Tim Woodson and is the only one like it in the world. The video description also notes that the shark boat is “great for parties.” Apparently, this particular great white shark is a rare fresh water species, as tours aboard the shark boat are available on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. For more information, check out the Gypsy Rose Pirate Ship website.

In unrelated news, Dr. Evil is said to be working on a similar boat which will have laser beams attached to the shark’s head.

A Snickers ad will probably rub some shark conservationists the wrong way, as it does little to dispel the myth that humans are preferred food source for sharks. AdFreak.com also notes that the ad probably won’t sit well with shark attack victims, either (which is certainly an understandable point).

In the advertisement, a group of animated great white sharks are participating in a focus-group and being questioned about a “blind taste test” of people they have just eaten. The preferred victim is revealed to have eaten Snickers Peanut Butter Squared, while the less palatable victim had eaten peanut butter cups.

Of course, the commercial is meant to be harmless, comical, and light-hearted. Considering that it also implies that sharks prefer Snickers peanut butter square over regular peanut butter cups, the fact that it isn’t doing anything to educate the public about shark behavior and diet isn’t really anything worth conservationists getting their feathers ruffled over. The ad isn’t meant to be educational, nor is it meant to be hurtful or insensitive. It’s simply meant to entertain and sell more Snickers products.

As for how it will affect those who have had to deal with the real-life shark attacks, AdFreak.com implies that since that particular demographic is so small, the advertisers likely ignored the adverse effects the ad might create.