The first specific order to catch and kill a great white shark is making headlines in Western Australia. The order was made in response to multiple sightings of a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) reported in the waters off of Dunsborough, WA over the past several days. The kill order is part of a new set of guidelines intended to reduce shark attacks in Western Australia. The policy introduced late last year, after a series of fatal shark attacks in 2011 and 2012. This is the first instance of an order to kill a specific shark (or sharks), since the guidelines were introduced.

WA Today reports that lines were initially set on Sunday with the intent of catching the great white shark (or sharks) seen in the Dunsborough area. A white shark was spotted as recently as yesterday afternoon in the area. According to the WA Today report, two tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) were caught as part of the effort. The tiger sharks, which measured 1.8m and 2m in length, were released according to Fisheries Department spokesperson Tony Cappelluti, who said the tiger sharks weren’t considered to be the “high hazard.” The lines were removed on Tuesday night, but Cappelutti went on to say that Fisheries Department officers would continue monitoring the area throughout the week to assess whether any further attempts to set lines will be made.

Great white sharks are a protected species in Australian waters.

The ReutersTV YouTube Channel recently posted a brief “Rough Cuts” feature on recent images of a shark fins being dried on a rooftop in Hong Kong that have caused anger among both local and international conservationists.

According to a Global Regina article, the photos were taken by Hong Kong based photographer Antony Dickson in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong. Environmentalist Gary Stokes originally photographed the shark fin operation on January 1. Dickson said that the rooftop was covered with “tens of thousands” of shark fins that were in the process of being dried out. Dickson was prompted to take the photos after seeing images of the shark fin operation via social media, according to Global Regina report.

There are no laws prohibiting the harvest or sale of shark fins in Hong Kong.

According to an ABC News report, 15 people were injured and 3 sharks died when a large shark aquarium “exploded” along a busy shopping area in Shanghai on December 19. The official cause of the structural failure was not determined according to the report. According to a statement from a mall official, the aquarium will not be rebuilt or replaced.

The video footage was captured by a security camera. There was no further information about the conditions of those injured in the ABC News report.

Have a safe and happy holiday season and a very merry Christmas to those who celebrate!

Vimeo user Shark Explorers recently shared the video above, which features white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) footage from both Isla de Guadalupe and South Africa. There is also what appears to be some sardine run footage and some nice blue shark (Prionace glauca) footage in the mix, as well.

You can visit the Shark Explorers website for more information about the Cape Town based shark diving operation.

South Africa’s Dyer Island Conservation Trust has put together a “mini-documentary” explaining the steps that go into tracking great white sharks and the motivation behind the effort to track the species. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about what goes into the process of tagging white sharks, this video is great place to start. The video also does a good job of approaching shark conservation with a positive and upbeat approach.

To learn more about their marine conservation and research programs check out the Dyer Island Conservation Trust website.