The 2012 Beneath the Waves film festival is calling for film entries. It will take place from March 21-24 in Norfolk, Virginia and is to be held in conjunction with the Benthic Ecology Meeting, hosted by Old Dominion University. In previous years, films have been shown concurrently with the normal poster sessions, but new for this year is a special evening devoted to films only with selected films being shown on March 23 from 6:30-8:30 PM on the IMAX screen at the Nauticus IMSX Theatre. The evening will feature the screening of a collection of top 2012 films, engaging filmmaker/researcher discussions, and audience participation.

Beneath the Waves will also be hosting a conservation filmmaking workshop and there will be the “Shore Dive Series” of mini-film festivals that will showcase a handful of 2012 films at various community theaters across the country. Full details for entry submission are available on the Beneath the Waves website and the deadline for entries is 20 January.

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Al Jazeera has reported that Taiwan plans to ban the practice of shark finning from the beginning of 2012. The country, which has the fourth largest shark-fishing industry in the world, has passed a new law outlawing the practice of cutting off the fins and throwing the bodies back into the sea in favor of forcing fishermen to land whole shark carcasses. They are the first country in Asia to contemplate such a ban.

The ban has been welcomed by conservationists but they say it does not go far enough.

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Underwater Times reports that the Costa Rican authorities have named the fishermen that are primarily responsible for illegal fishing in the Cocos Islands marine protected area. The Minister of the Environment, Rene Castro, has presented the first list of identified vessels that have illegally entering the Cocos Island between January 2010 - September 2011 to Incopesca’s president, Luis Dobles. The list contains 13 repeat offenders, amongst whom the vessel “Albatros” achieves a dubious first place with 23 illegal entries, followed by the vessel “Franju III” with 20 and in third place “Chaday1” with 18. In addition, the Franju S.A. company and its vessels “Franju II” and “Coopepes 20”, is responsible for a total of 24 illegal entries.

The action aims to force the authorities to act to enforce their legislation which, on paper, aims to protect the islands, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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The results of the annual DIVER Beginners Portfolio Competition have been announced. It is open to anyone who has not won first, second or third in a national or international competition and the voting took place at the monthly British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) meeting in early November. First place was awarded to Sean Arrowsmith, with Mark Pickford taking second and Andrew McKelvie, third. Congratulations to all the winners.

Full details can be viewed on the BSoUP website.

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The new Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens has been featured in an underwater gallery on the Canon Digital Learning Center. Featuring images by and an interview with Wetpixel member Stephen Frink about the whale shark aggregation at Isla Mujeres, Mexico, a shoot in the Georgia Aquarium, and on location in Bonaire, the article outlines the specifics of this lens for underwater use.

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