If signed into law, a ban on the possession, sale, trade, and distribution of shark fins in the state of Illinois would go into effect on January 1, 2013. A six-month grace period would allow fins acquired prior to 2013 to be exempt from the ban through July 1, 2013.

You can read Illinois HB4119, as proposed, at the Illinois General Assembly website.

YouTube user Redtale1106 captured some close-up footage of a shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) feeding on a mahi-mahi aka dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) that had been hooked by one the fisherman aboard the boat the video was shot from. Unfortunately for the mako, it also ended up getting hooked by one of the fisherman.

According to a report at Florida Sportsman, the fishermen intentionally hooked the shark after it began biting their boat’s propeller. After a 30 minute fight, the shark was brought close to the boat and the line was cut.

Fat Fish Movies recently added some excellent whale shark (Rhincodon typus) footage to their YouTube channel. According to the video description the video is a montage of whale shark encounters filmed off Koh Tao, Thailand during 2012.

YouTube user absoluteboatbrokers recently posted the video above which features a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) feeding on the carcass of a blue shark (Prionace glauca), which was caught earlier in the day. The footage was shot off of Australia’s Bondi Beach, according to the video description.

The blue shark had been tied to the side of the boat after the fisherman had caught it. While the white shark is listed as a protected species in Australia waters, the blue shark can be fished for legally.

Absoluteboatbrokers also added a short second clip of the feeding event.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the supermarket…no, really. “Bait 3D” is an upcoming film that centers around a group of people trapped in underground supermarket that has been flooded by a tsunami. Based on the trailer, it appears the film will feature a mix of practical and digital special effects to represent the villainous rogue great white shark (or sharks) that wreak havoc on the flooded market.

The movie industry seems to be no stranger to the “killer shark” formula for horror/suspense movies these days. The past year has seen movies such as Shark Night 3D and Dark Tide (which featured some footage of actual great white sharks shot on location at Isla de Guadalupe). And, while “Bait 3D” probably won’t win praise from any of the shark conservationist groups out there, it probably isn’t going to win any awards for Best Picture either. Keep in mind, it’s just a movie…a campy-looking horror movie, at that.

“Bait 3D” is scheduled for release in Australia, along with a few other international markets, in September.

According to reports, a man was thrown overboard when a great white shark bit his kayak off Cambria.

According to a KION-46 report, a man was thrown from his kayak off of Cambria, California’s Moonstone Beach on Saturday when a shark bit his kayak. The report goes on to say that Cambria firefighters said that a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) was responsible for the bite, which left a 24″ bite mark on the kayak.

According to KSBY.com, the kayaker described a 15′ great white shark swimming right past him after knocking him into the water. The kayaker was unharmed.

A two-month monitoring program was unable to locate a white shark in Western Australia.

Australia’s ABC News reports that a 2-month long shark monitoring project, carried out by Western Australia’s Department of Fisheries, did not result in the tagging of a single great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) south-west Western Australia. The reason no white sharks were tagged as part of the monitoring project was due to the fact that team was unable to locate any of the species in the area while the research was taking place.

While no white sharks were located, the program was still considered successful as other species of sharks were tagged during the monitoring project.

For more information, you can check out the full article at ABC News.

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.

Florida’s Fox4Now is reporting that a 47-year-old German woman was bitten by a shark yesterday, off Florida’s Vero Beach. The woman was in waist-deep water when she was bitten on her left leg. According to the report, the victim suffered severe injuries to her leg, as a result of the bite.

TCPalm reports that she was out of surgery last night and listed in serious condition, according to a hospital spokesperson. Lifeguards and beachgoers assisted the woman and helped to stabilize her until emergency medical support arrived.

The species involved in the attack has not yet been identified.

YouTube user seasniperinwa recently had a surprise encounter with what was described as a “10-foot plus” tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), while snorkeling in shallow water off Exmouth, Western Australia. As can be seen in the video footage, the tiger shark seemed non-aggressive and swam away from the man after the initial approach. According to the video description, the videographer warned some surfers of the shark’s presence on his was back to shore.

There is also a longer version of the video that features some footage of the man apparently enjoying the beach with his family added on to beginning of the video.