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Texas shark fin ban passes house and fizzles in senate

Abi Mullens — 2013-05-21T17:53:25+00:00

Texas shark fin ban passes house and fizzles in senate

Researchers: Penguins sacrificed ability to fly for gift of swimming

Abi Mullens — 2013-05-21T17:40:32+00:00

Researchers: Penguins sacrificed ability to fly for gift of swimming

Nikon posts firmware updates for D300, D300S, D700 AND P7700 cameras

Adam Hanlon — 2013-05-21T13:23:53+00:00

Nikon posts firmware updates for D300, D300S, D700 AND P7700 cameras

Flickr: “No such thing as professional photographers anymore”

Adam Hanlon — 2013-05-21T11:17:52+00:00

Yahoo has had a busy week. On Monday, it announced the acquisition of blogging platform Tumblr for a reported $1.1bn and it launched a revamped version of its photo hosting site, Flickr. This was acquired by the company in 2005, and has been left pretty much untouched ever since. The redesign has changed the layout of the site and will give users the option of a free, advertising supported account with 1TB of online storage or a paid account that will cost $49.99/year and offers ad-free browsing. The current Pro account offered both unlimited uploads and ad free browsing for $24.95/year.

The rational for this change was laid out by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer at a press conference in New York yesterday. She claimed that the company wants "*to make Flickr awesome again*". She went on to say that: “*There’s no such thing as Flickr Pro today because [with so many people taking photographs] there’s really no such thing as professional photographers anymore*,” although she acknowledged that there are photographers with “*different skill levels*”.

It seems that Yahoo's goal for Flickr is for it to be monetized by advertising revenue that it will receive due to its synergy with Tumblr. They obviously feel that "*professional*" content is not needed to drive the required traffic their way, in fact they seem to feel that this content doesn't actually exist! Their plan seems unclear as to why people will visit a photo sharing site if there aren't good images for them to look at when they get there? Perhaps Ms Mayer's quote should read that there are no such thing as a professional photographer on Flickr anymore?

Tagged: flickr, news

Daniel Botelho: Sharks of Cat Island

Adam Hanlon — 2013-05-21T10:43:02+00:00

Delaware bans shark fins

Abi Mullens — 2013-05-20T21:39:27+00:00

Delaware bans shark fins

DxOMark tests lenses for the Nikon D600

Adam Hanlon — 2013-05-20T19:50:40+00:00

DxOMark tests lenses for the Nikon D600

Google takes street view for a dive

Adam Hanlon — 2013-05-20T17:27:30+00:00

TechCrunch has published an [article](http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/16/how-google-took-street-view-for-a-dive/)about Google's ongoing project to add "Street View" style imagery from the underwater realm. Google's recent I/O conference included a presentation from the [Catlin Seaview Survey](http://catlinseaviewsurvey.com/surveys/caribbean/aruba) team, and details have been made public of how the team's imaging scooters create the underwater mapping. During each hour-long dive, the divers travel around 2km and capture between 3,000 to 4,000 images. Each scooter has three cameras, oriented in a Y formation, and controlled via a tablet mounted on the rear of the scooter.

There are currently 4 of the $50,000 dollar systems in existence, although the team are looking into the possibility of using autonomous underwater vehicles for the future.

Survey operations are focusing in the Americas at present, but there are plans to expand the survey area significantly over the next three years. As to the reasons for such a project, project director Richard Vevers pointed out in his address during the conference that it is a powerful tool to get people to engage with the environmental challenges facing the world's oceans. He says: "*People don’t want to protect anything they can't see*,” and "*most people don’t dive, but there’s no reason why we can’t take them diving virtually*".

Tagged: catlin sea survey, google, news

Shark Angels launches online charity auction

Adam Hanlon — 2013-05-20T12:55:51+00:00

Shark Angels has launched a [charity auction](http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/SharkAngels/catalog_items) to raise funds for its conservation initiatives. The sale, which runs through until 11 June, includes diving trips, celebrity attendances at film premieres and a fashion shoot.

###Press release.
Shark Angels, a US based non-profit, is thrilled to launch their first annual [World Oceans Day auction](http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/SharkAngels/catalog_items) on 16 May on Charity Buzz, one of the world’s leading auction platforms. Items up for bid, through 11 June, include incredible celebrity experiences, sports memorabilia, unique expeditions around the globe, and, of course, quite a few sharky items.

By bidding on their amazing auction items, you’ll fuel critical campaigns and play a vital role in protecting not just a threatened species, but also the oceans. Shark Angels employs grassroots outreach, creative media, and education campaigns aimed at inspiring a global movement to save sharks – and the ecosystems they keep healthy. And it’s working. For over five years, Shark Angels has been involved in some of the most well-known and highest impact ocean conservation programs around the world.

“*We’ve been thrilled with the support from our partners and are very excited about this experiential auction*,” says executive director, Julie Andersen. “*Like the angels – and the animals they protect – it is truly unique*.” Ms. Andersen hopes the auction will earn enough to fuel Shark Angels’ innovative education and advocacy programs, like FinFree, to protect sharks, the ocean’s apex species. “*The health of the world’s oceans depends on healthy shark populations, and every creature on earth depends on healthy oceans for survival. This is a tangible way to ensure your donations make a very real difference*.”

You can help by checking out the items, bidding, and helping to spread the link far and wide. Sharks, healthy oceans, and a committed organization dedicated to their preservation are depending on it. We’ve done a lot with a little. But now we need your help.

Tagged: environment, news, shark angels

Branson brokers deal to protect Caribbean sharks

Adam Hanlon — 2013-05-20T12:18:54+00:00

Businessman Sir Richard Branson hosted a meeting of nine Caribbean governments along with chiefs of resort companies and cruise lines, representatives of the World Bank, representatives of the United Nations and other international bodies, private foundations and environmental groups last weekend. Held at the eco resort on Necker Island, the group discussed the "Caribbean Challenge", which calls for special protected zones along at least 20 per cent of the region's coasts by 2020. The delegates signed a memorandum that pledges to "*establish a framework for a regional approach to coastal conservation, including increasing considerably the number of marine protected areas. They also said they recognized an urgent need to protect sharks and rays, and vowed a dramatic acceleration in the transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources over the next five years*".

Tagged: branson, environment, news