It’s not shark news, but…Discovery and NHK (Japan’s national public broadcasting) have released the first video footage of the elusive live giant squid (Architeuthis species?) in its natural habitat. ABC News reports that the giant squid was first spotting using a submersible at a depth of 2,100′ (640m) in waters east of Chichi-jima. The submersible followed the squid to a depth of 2,953′ (900m). The specimen, which was missing its two longest tentacles, measured approximately 10′ (3m) in length, which is relatively small for species of the Architeuthis genus.

Footage of the encounter will air in as part of the documentary “Legends of the Deep: Giant Squid” on NHK this Sunday (January 13, 2012) and on “Monster Squid: The Giant Is Real” on the Discovery Channel on January 27.

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.

Kudos to Dani Zapata, the divemaster of the Solmar V, for cutting a rope free from a female whale shark (Rhincodon typus) near Roca Partida, Mexico. The video footage was shot by YouTube user Ed Gentry. The whale shark was 30′ (9m) pregnant female, according to the Solmar V’s video trip report. The rope was cutting into the whale shark’s flesh and creating a hindrance for the animal and could potentially have become life-threatening for the animal. Dani cut the rope free with a pocket knife.

Check out the Solmar V video trip report for more footage of the rescue effort and to hear Dani’s first-hand account of cutting the whale shark free of the rope.

The BlueWorldTV YouTube channel recently added the video above, which features host Jonathan Bird traveling to Baie-Comeau, Canada with the hopes of diving with Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus). While Bird’s first few rounds of dive don’t pay off, eventually he encounters the cold-water sleeper shark after moving further from shore for deeper dives. Footage of a Greenland shark starts around the 5:40 mark in the video.

You can check out the Jonathan Bird’s Blue World website for more information about Bird’s marine-focused, educational programming.

You can also see more shark-related clips at the BlueWorldTV YouTube channel, including recently added videos featuring tiger sharks, great white sharks, and whale sharks.

UPDATE Jeffrey Gallant – GEERG (Greenland Shark and Elasmobranch Education and Research Group) has commented that this is more likely a southern sleeper shark (Somniosus antarcticus), and could also possibly be a Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus). However, it is “virtually impossible” to tell based solely on imagery.

The crew aboard of the Stena DrillMAX caught some amazing footage earlier this month of what appears to be a large Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) recorded at over 9,100′ (2,770m) deep. To give a frame of reference, the pipe seen in the background is approximately 5′ (1.5m) in diameter. The depth (in feet) can be seen on the video in the upper-right corner.

The footage was recorded by ROV (remotely operated vehicle) about 300 miles (400km) off the coast of Brazil on February 11, 2012.

The Florida Museum of Natural History notes that a Greenland shark was recorded in 1988 at 7,218 feet (2,200 m) at the wreck of the SS Central America off Savannah, Georgia, USA. This is the greatest depth on record that I’ve been able to find, prior to the depth documented in the Stena DrillMAX video above which exceeds the 1988 recorded depth by about 1,900′ (over 500m).

If anyone has any other information about maximum recorded depths of sleeper sharks caught on film, please let me know, so I can pass it on to the Stena DrillMAX crew. Thanks!