"Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus"

One of the highlights of 2009 was the introduction of the Dorsal Fin Blog to the world of sharks, conservation and media.

It would seem that 2010 will be as informative and amusing under their "seasoned media eye."

Kudos for this weeks media find, Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus. A film that has plenty of cheese for everyone:

DIVA Resort in Maldives Part of the Eco Solution

Luxury resort Diva Maldives has become a flagship supporter of the recently designated FenMaaDhiguRan, the Maldives first fully regulated, and largest, Marine Protected Area (MPA) – home to a globally significant population of whale sharks, not to mention some of the world’s finest dive sites.

The first resort located within the MPA to commit to backing the pioneering conservation project with fundraising initiatives, Diva Maldives has introduced a voluntary gratuity charge scheme enabling guests to actively contribute to the conservation of the whale sharks and their habitat.

A tropical paradise on one of the archipelago’s largest and most beautiful natural islands, with four kilometres of pristine white sand and lush tropical greenery flanked by a crystal clear lagoon, Diva Maldives enhances the picture postcard Maldivian idyll with the elusive luxury of space, and the liberty of choice. The introduction of the voluntary gratuity charge scheme underlines Diva’s commitment to protecting the whale sharks and their habitats, while helping the new MPA to generate improved business, education and employment opportunities for the local community.

Established following successful lobbying by the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme conservation charity, the MPA was officially designated by the Republic of Maldives government in July 2009. The MPA is 42km in length and, through proper regulation and educational community initiatives, will protect important habitats and species in this area from threats including overfishing, unregulated tourism and pollution, and help the local community to protect their natural resources for future generations.

Founded in 1990 and based in Mauritius, Naïade is a renowned hotel group with an undisputed reputation in the Indian Ocean. The group currently consists of nine hotels and one private island: Beau Rivage (five star deluxe), Legends (five star), Les Pavillons (five star), Tamassa (four star), Merville Beach (three star plus), Le Tropical (three star), and the private island of Ile des Deux Cocos, all in Mauritius; Hotel du Recif (three star) and Grand Hotel du Lagon (four star) in Reunion Island; and Diva (five star deluxe) in the Maldives. Each hotel has its own individual charm yet all the resorts in the portfolio share high levels of service and warm hospitality setting them apart from their competitors. www.naiade.com

"Oceans" That's French for "Beautiful"

What began five years ago as an undersea voyage to document the blue earth will be on screens January 27th - and those that live on the earth part will never be the same again.

Oceans a film by Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud will be the defining underwater film of the decade.

The interactive website is a must see, and for those of you lucky enough to see the film release in January just remember we told you so.

Kudos to magnificent blue films.

Blue Bloggers Welcome Sean Paxton

"Juggling sharks, chainsaws and bowling balls is a personal metaphor adopted for my life and all the opportunity and challenge that makes it worthwhile. In reality, sharks do consume large portions of my time and energy, but it's the connected totality of the world's wild parts that fuels a passion for their long-term sustainability. Dull moments be damned. Here's a stout cocktail of adventure and wildlife; of risk and reward, and an exploration of how it all ties together in some of the strangest ways imaginable. If so much of this wasn't from personal experience, I probably wouldn't believe me, either."

Thus introduced, welcome to the newest addition of the Blue Blogosphere - Sean Paxton

Who are the Blue Bloggers?

As I have come to know them they are thinkers, innovators, trend setters, and conservation gurus. They are those who see things in all shades and beyond the horizon, they are the ones who shape current conservation issues, and sometimes move mountains.

For those who have not yet met the Blue Bloggers, you'll see their work in the shaping of ideas and conservation thought, in new websites, new media direction, and changes in old behavior.

The conservation world needs independent and controversial thoughts, smart ideas and conservation direction.

This is Sean Paxton.

If you were hoping for a dull assortment of "daily blarf", this blog is not for you. If you were hoping for something that challenges, enrages, and inspires, you came to the right place.

Sit back. Set your amps to 11 and please ensure your seat back tables are in the upright position...welcome to SeanPaxton.com

Shark Survivability 0% To 80%

A very large percentage of "shark fishermen" are in fact "accidental fishermen" - like these fine examples from New Jersey.

After watching this video shark conservation folks can do two things:

1. Get angry and rail at all shark fishermen.

2. Produce the tools for shark survivability.

A series of well placed informational videos highlighting catch and release techniques with real sharks would "educate fishermen" how to save sharks. The fishermen in this video unknowing killed this animal. They just lacked any clear idea how to deal with a shark, from gaffing, to hook removal.

With an industry leader like, Guy Harvey, and the backing of the IGFA, these videos would do more for sport caught shark survivability then most efforts currently being promoted.

Education is the golden key to sport caught sharks.

As shark conservation folks why don't we lead this issue instead of reacting to it? Any takers?

Mossel Bay Shark Death - New Twist

It would seem there's a new twist in the widely reported story of a "Monster Shark" that was accidentally caught in Mossel Bay, South Africa.

Turns out the shark was caught some 1600 kilometers away from the Mossel Bay location and "trucked in" for a film crews shoot, contrary to multiple mainstream news reports and emails floating around the Internet.

Thanks to writer Martin Hatchuel who wrote us this week to offer the straight story. Martin is a travel writer for Mossel Bay tourism.

Media Release. Immediate. 28 October 2009.

Scientist Dissects KwaZulu-NatalShark in Mossel Bay.

Mossel Bay’s Oceans Research Laboratory last week dissected a massive great white shark which had been trucked into the town from KwaZulu-Natal, where it had drowned after being caught in shark nets.The animal was supplied by the Natal Sharks Board.

“The rumour mill has been working overtime, but the truth is that the shark was brought here so that the dissection could be filmed for a National Geographic television programme called ‘Inside Nature’s Giants’,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.“The series will be shown on both National Geographic and on ’s Channel 4, and features experts from all over the world who trace each animal’s evolutionary history by exploring its internal anatomy.”

According to David Dugan, chairman of Windfall Films, the producers of the series, “When the [first part of] the series aired in the UK, it received universal acclaim in the press and it is now being nominated for many major awards.“A team of researchers and production personnel flew in from New York, London,Durban and to assist scientist Enrico Gennnari, who performed the dissection as part of the requirements for his PhD degree,” said Ms. Holm.

“There are people who want to be frightened by this poor creature, but it really is worth remembering that he was dead by the time he arrived in Mossel Bay,” she said.Mossel Bay has featured in a previous National Geographic production - called ‘Sharkville’ - which showed how, in fact, man and the sharks really do live side by side.“If anything, we’re more of a threat to them than they are to us.”

Ms. Holm said that the risk of shark attack remained low, and that swimmers, surfers and other recreational users of the oceans could mitigate this even further by looking out for - and avoiding - unusually high concentrations of sea birds and fish in the areas in which they were swimming.

“We don’t catch great whites in Mossel Bay as they are protected by the law,” she said.

Casting White Sharks as Villians...Again

We have been keeping tabs on a new production in the works called The Reef.

This mornings news from Australia confirms suspicions that another "white shark attack film" is in the offing, just in time for 2010:

AN overturned hull is causing some consternation near Shelly Beach but the person most affected by the makeshift shipwreck is a movie character. Thankfully.

The character shall remain nameless. Best to say he or she meets a “grisly demise” in the waters of Hervey Bay this week and a great white shark is probably involved at some level.

Complete Story

Vic Hislop - Quote of the week 2009

In case you did not know who Vic Hislop was, he's featured this month in Edit International magazine which poses the question "Are Sharks Targeting Humans?"

Vic Hislop Quote:

"When people put down shark cages for their thrill-seeking clients some of the burley (blood and cut up fish bait and meat) travels up to 40 kilometers away, say Hislop. These people would like you to think they are conservationists because they don’t kill sharks – but they are using thousands of edible fish as shark bait. He adds, Sharks pick up the scent, become aroused and are ready to eat by the time they reach the cage containing a human. If the cages were not strongly made, or fell off to the bottom, those stupid people would be goners in seconds. Meanwhile the sharks are not killed after the event. They are simply being trained to hunt humans.”

Editors Note: It is media quotes like these we are reminded of the commercial shark divers prayer - "Lord protect us from the small minded and the dim."

Great White Hunters-Ahhh Gawd!

More of the "Zowie Kapowie" with this latest video sent in from shark blog fan Stephen from New York.

We're not sure about this latest video. What do you get when you have 40km of deserted beach, 4 bored fishermen, 12 cases of beer, and some Great whites?

The answer is another crazy shark fishing video.

Sharks-Working the "Zowie Kapowie"

If it's hip, cool, new the guys over at Super Fun Patrol got it covered. Seriously, they got it covered.

We recently found out we're their favorite Shark Blog...but lacking a little on the "Zowie Kapowie" factor we once had. Ouch!

Well, we read ya loud and clear Yoshi...let's light this firecracker!

Zowie Kapowie Factor 11-This is the only footage we know of this happening...ever. One of our crew members accidentally dropped a two lb can of Chock Full O' Nuts coffee over the side and a huge shark ate it. The dramatic results were filmed for posterity: