New non-governmental organization XOOC has published a mini-documentary about the bull sharks of Playa del Carmen, Mexico onto Vimeo. Twenty five sharks, including pregnant females, were caught by fishermen in the area during November 2010. The animals were taken for their fins and this effectively destroyed a fledgling shark tourism industry in the area.

The film attempts to underline that those sharks had the potential to be great sustainable assets to the tourist industry, and that these earning are now lost.

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Marine environmental charity Bite-Back has released tickets for the fifth annual Bite-Back at Cancer Ball, to be held in central London on 24 September. The fundraising evening will take place aboard RS Hispaniola, a decommissioned ferry permanently moored on the north bank of the River Thames and up to 130 participants will be able to enjoy a three-course dinner with wine, raffle, disco, fundraising roulette tables and the chance to bid for a series of prizes.

Tickets are priced at £65 until the end of July, and £75 thereafter. Proceeds from the black-tie event will go to Bite-Back’s Shark and Marine Conservation programme and to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

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Egypt’s Red Sea is synonymous with fantastic coral reefs, blue water and brightly colored schools of anthia goldfish, but curiously seems to not to be highly regarded for macro or super macro underwater photography.

Over the past few years however, I had heard of some of the big names in UK underwater photography leading trips to a relatively obscure resort in the Northern Red Sea and returning with images that were unique for the area. I resolved to visit Nuweiba myself to see if this could be the destination for Red Sea muck diving.

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The Aggressor and Dancer fleet has launched a monthly on-line photo competition for images taken whilst on cruises with the company. Submitted images will be uploaded onto the companies Facebook pages where there will be a public vote for the winners. Monthly winning entries will be automatically entered into an annual contest.

Full details and how to enter are on the Aggressor and Dancer fleet pages. Significantly, the competitions are not open to professional photographers, and images entered must have been taken by guests on the company’s cruises within the previous 180 days.

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Wetpixel member Josh Weller is exhibiting some of his latest photographs at the Xposure Show at The Rag Factory, London, UK from 24 to 26 May. Josh’s images will be alongside other more mainstream photographic work including fashion and still life.

Josh is holding a private viewing of his work to which Wetpixel members are invited (with an open bar!) on 24 May at 7pm.

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