A pioneering study by Australian and New Zealand scientists has disproved the traditional position; that in order to study whales it was necessary to kill them. Conducted under the banner of the Southern Oceans Research Partnership (SORP), seventeen researchers gathered information about whales using skin biopsy, photography, satellite tagging and acoustics to study population structure, distribution, movement, feeding and ecological role of Southern Ocean whales.

During the expedition, the team attached 30 satellite tracking tags, collected 64 skin biopsy samples and 61 individual tail fluke photographs from humpback whales. They also deployed 110 sonobuoys which recorded the sounds of blue, humpback, minke, fin and sperm whales, as well as an unidentified beaked whale. Lastly, they were able to track the movements of blue whales for 36 hours.

The findings of their research will be presented to the International Whaling Commission meeting next year.

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Sanyo Europe has announced the release of AA eneloop batteries in a 2500 mAh capacity. Eneloop batteries have been the choice of many underwater photographers, and this increase in capacity is a welcome feature. The new batteries are branded XX and have the same low self-discharge rates as their predecessors.

In addition, in the forums Drew Wong has posted a review of Nickel Zinc batteries (NiZn) based on his use of them in his strobes over the past eight months.

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BBC HD announced the Canon XF305 and XF300 camcorders have been approved principal capture cameras for independent production. These cameras are the first ones with 1/3” CMOS sensors to make the list. The camcorders are the first fix lens 3xCMOS sensors cameras to capture 4:2:2 50mbps MPEG2 1080p video onto common high speed compact flash cards without an external recording device and proprietary cards.  This camera is the most compact for undewater use on the list.

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Two blue sharks (Prionace glauca) were tagged by researchers on the Irish West coast, the Irish Times reports. The sharks, named Granuaile and Queen Méabh by the University College Cork (UCC) team during the encounter off Cork’s Old Head of Kinsale, will be tracked as they move around the North Atlantic over this winter. Although blue sharks have been tagged before, this is the first time that archival “pop up” tags have been deployed: These tags detach after a specific time period, having collected and stored data on temperature, depth and light as the sharks migrate.

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As a photographer it is always good to absorb local influences, but perhaps the photographers on Alex Mustard’s photo workshop in Norway may have taken things too literally by dressing in traditional Viking clothes. The Nordic Photo Event is organized by Fotografit at Gulen Dive Resort and, in addition to Alex Mustard’s workshop, also features talks by Norwegian photographer Christian Skauge. Although the photographers have been out on the boat each day, there have been no reports of raids on local villages yet.

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