The “Shark Protection Act,” which was signed into law last October and went into effect on January 1, 2012, prohibits the sale and trade of shark fins in California.

According to the lawsuit, the shark fin ban effectively eliminates interstate trade of shark fins, which has been a legitimate local business for over 35 years. The Chronicle reports that local opponents of the shark fin ban plan to file a federal lawsuit, as well.

Proposed Shark Fin Ban

A bill that would ban the possession, sale, trade, and distribution of shark fins in the state of Illinois has been proposed by State Representative Sara Feigenholtz, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The proposed bill HB4119 is collaborative effort between Feigenholtz and the Illinois wing of The Humane Society of the United States.

If passed, the bill would go into effect in July 2013. For more information on the proposed bill, check out the Sun-Times article, or head over to the Illinois General Assembly website to read HB4119.

NewzStringer has posted the above video in which Surfwatch Australia’s Michael Brown, an aerial patrol officer, discusses his views on the effectiveness of Sydney’s shark nets and possible alternative options to the net system. Brown suggests that research is needed on sonar-based alert systems and electronic pulse systems.

In related news, the Newcastle Herald recently interviewed shark attack survivor, Lisa Mondy, who spoke out against the use of shark nets. Mondy, who was bitten by a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) last March, told the Herald that the nets were outdated and ineffective at preventing shark attacks. Mondy added that the nets indiscriminately kill various forms of marine life in addition to sharks.

You can check out the entire article at the Newcastle Herald.

The killing of a white shark in Australia is punishable by a fine of up to $11,000 and a two-year jail sentence, according to The Telegraph.

It was reported that some of the people on the scene claimed that the shark (seen in this photo) was a mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), which is not protected in Australia. A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries, who are investigating the incident, said that thinking the shark was a mako was “not an excuse.”

To read the full article head over The Telegraph.

The past few weeks have generated negative sentiment toward Rosie O’Donnell among some online conservation groups for photos that recently surfaced on Mark “The Shark” Quartiano’s website. A photo featuring O’Donnell and some of her family members posing with a hammerhead shark they caught, recently appeared after Quartiano named O’Donnell “This Month’s Celebrity Angler.”

The shark seen in the photo at the center of the controversy appears to be a great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran). The great hammerhead is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. Despite the endangered status of the species, it was not until January 1 of this year that it became illegal to kill great hammerhead sharks in Florida state waters.

Until this week the criticism was limited to online social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. However, it seems that the major media has picked up the story this week. Several media outlets based in Miami are reporting on the story, as are a handful of international media outlets.

O’Donnell has responded via Twitter that the photo was “taken years ago” and occurred before the regulations were put into effect banning the killing of hammerhead sharks. Quartiano told Miami’s WSVN-TV that conservationists are targeting the wrong person, noting that as a result of commercial fishing operations “metric tons of sharks being killed daily right outside of our coast.”

Australia’s ABC News is reporting that a 28-year-old man sustained a shark bite to the arm while surfing off North Avoca, NSW yesterday.

The Herald Sun reports that witnesses described the shark as being brown in color and about 1.8m in length. The surfer was taken to Gosford Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. According to the Herald Sun, a hospital spokesman said that the victim was in a satisfactory condition and might not even need stitches.

al.com recently posted an article regarding a study by researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab regarding the stomach contents of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). The article reports that researchers have found migratory birds in the stomachs of tiger sharks caught off the Alabama coast. The article goes on to discuss a theory that oil platforms are providing the tiger shark with a “bird buffet” due to the lights of the rigs attracting the birds and causing them to circle to platforms to the point of exhaustion, causing them to fall into the sea.

You can check out the full story at al.com.

Fin-free "shark fin" soup

According to an article from The New Yorker, San Franciso chef Corey Lee has created his version of “shark fin soup” that doesn’t use shark fins in the recipe. Lee worked with food scientists to develop an alternative method to create the “shark fin texture” The method involves using hydrocolloids in the broth to achieve the desired texture which Lee described as being “gelatinous and brittle” at the same time.

Lee’s version of the soup, which is served at his Benu restaurant, received approval from renown chef Cecelia Chiang. The New Yorker reports that Chiang, who is credited with bringing Northern Chinese cooking to America, had no idea that the soup was not made with shark fins.

You can check out the full story at The New Yorker’s Culture Desk.

Central Coast News (KION 46) recently interviewed shark attack survivor Eric Tarantino about his encounter with a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) while surfing off California’s Marina State Beach on October 29, 2011. Tarantino’s injuries from the shark bite have healed, and he plans to head back into the water before the end of the year, according to the interview with Central Coast News.

In addition to setting up a foundation to help Tarantino cover his medical expenses, Vernor Surfboards will be giving Tarantino a new surfboard and wetsuit to help get him back in the water.

If you want to help support David and his research, you can vote for him at the 2011 Blogging Scholarship voting page.