TourismToday continues to focus on shark conservation in the Bahamas in their latest video which discusses conservation efforts in Andros. The Bahamas National Trust’s shark conservation initiative is making an effort to educate citizens of the Bahamas about the importance of sharks to the environment, as well as the local tourism industry.

Andros’ sport-fishing and scuba diving opportunities make the island particularly dependent on healthy shark populations, due to the importance of sharks maintaining a healthy balance in the marine ecosystem.

Oscar Munroe (Island Administrator) hopes to get all stakeholders in the Adnros community involved in the shark conservation efforts in order to set an example to those outside of Andros.

Ads like the one above tout the marvelous health benefits of “shark oil” or “shark liver oil,” but is there any scientific evidence to support the claims that oil extracted from sharks can actually heal wounds, boost your immune system, fight infection, or assist with cancer treatment?

The claims of immunity-boosting properties, wound healing, and cancer treatment benefits stem largely from the alkylglycerols found in shark liver oil. According to the American Cancer Society these claims “have not been studied in controlled clinical trials.”

Additionally, other components of shark oil including squalamine and squalene also have been promoted as having health benefits.

The American Cancer Society states that research has indicated that squalamine did decrease the number of lung metastases in laboratory animals, but that early studies in humans have not indicated whether it helps to shrink tumors or prolong survival.

A study did show that squalene “seemed to protect normal bone marrow cells from the effects of some chemotherapy drugs while still allowing the drugs to affect cancer cells,” in a laboratory environment. However, there is currently no evidence as to whether this effect extends to humans or animals.

So, while those trying to sell shark oil might boast that these products offer numerous health benefits, the evidence supporting these claims seems to be minimal, at best.

The teaser trailer for Soul Surfer the movie based on the story of surfer Bethany Hamilton is online. Hamilton became a media sensation after her recovery from a tiger shark attack and her comeback to the world of surfing.

Soul Surfer, which opens in U.S. theaters on April 8, stars AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, and Denis Quaid.

Kudos to those behind the trailer for Soul Surfer for focusing on Hamilton’s triumph and not playing up the shark attack element in the trailer.

The video above was posted by YouTube user TheMrborto and features what looks like a relatively younger white shark interacting with a seal decoy in Klein Bay, South Africa. It’s unclear from the video what the motivation is behind luring the shark with the decoy.

Whether this is an attempt to study white shark behavior or not, the decoy certainly seems to have captured the interest of the shark in this particular video.

The RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program were kind enough to provide a nice free meal for this 3m lemon shark, as part of their shark research. The lemon shark had apparently had a run-in with fisherman at some point, based on the fish stuck in its jaw.

In a follow-up to the previous post, here is another video featuring the FX work of Greg McKee. This one features the breakdown of sequence that was used in the BBC program “Saved by Dolphins,” and features a computer generated dolphin and great white shark added to a live-action sequence.

McKee’s work on the computer generated dolphin on the left is so convince that it’s hard to distinguish it from the dolphin on the right side of the frame, which according to McKee’s comments is an actual dolphin. Check out the entire shark and dolphin sequence on McKee’s YouTube channel, which also features a cg mako.

Australian FX artist Greg McKee recently posted the above video to his YouTube channel, which features what appears to be a composite of “live-action” white shark footage and a computer-generated orca.

McKee work was featured in the animated film “Happy Feet,” in which he worked on the orca animation sequences. To check out more of his work head on over to Greg McKee’s website.

YouTube user hughsfishfight has recently posted videos that appear to clips of Gordon Ramsay’s “investigate report” on the shark fin trade. In addition to the video above, the second video features Ramsay discovering a bag of large shark fins aboard a fishing vessel.

Last week the Daily Mail reported that Ramsay had been threatened and held at gunpoint while filming a sequence in Costa Rica for the television program (U.K.’s Channel 4) “Big Fish Fight.” According to quotes from Ramsay, he was doused with gasoline by persons involved with the shark fin operation. Costa Rican police advised Ramsay and his crew to leave the country, according to statements made by Ramsay.

The Florida Museum of Natural History recently added the video above to its YouTube channel. The video, which features George Burgess discussing the importance of shark conservation, was filmed as part of the museum’s traveling exhibition “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived”.

In the video, Burgess discusses threats to shark populations such as demand for shark fins and unintentional bycatch. Burgess discusses how slow maturation and low reproductive rates make shark species particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the important role of sharks as apex predators in the marine environment is also briefly touched upon.

WARNING: Video features images of sharks being butchered

Matt Rand of the Pew Environment Group discusses Shark Conservation Act, which was recently signed into law. Rand notes that while the shark mandates that all sharks landed in U.S. must have their fins intact, the act does not set limits on the number of sharks that can be caught, which Rand says is something that is still “greatly needed.”