A High Fly Over College World Series to Help Canadian Seals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


A High Fly Over College World Series to Help Canadian Seals


Animal Activists Sponsor Airplane Banner Calling for Canadian Snow Crab Boycott


OMAHA, Neb. (June 22, 2006) – Baseball fans will be watching the sky above the College World Series for more than fly balls on Saturday. In an effort to apply more pressure on the Canadian government to end the yearly slaughter of hundreds of thousands of baby seals, The Humane Society of the United States and local activists will bring their message to the air in the form of an airplane banner reading “Protect Seals – Don’t Buy Canadian Snow Crab.”



Sealing is an off-season activity conducted by commercial fishermen from Canada’s East Coast. More than two-thirds of Canadian seafood is exported to the United States, producing $2.8 billion annually for the Canadian economy and making the industry a viable target for a boycott – with snow crab being the most popular seafood item.



Hundreds of restaurants, chefs, and individuals all across the country have signed the pledge at www.ProtectSeals.org, including Monique Huston, manager of the locally famous Dundee Dell. “We are extremely proud to be a part of this important campaign and included with the high-end restaurants and chefs jumping on board in Omaha,” said Huston. The Dundee Dell was the first restaurant in Omaha to speak out for the seals and is very active in the charitable community.



“The Humane Society of the United States applauds the efforts of individual consumers, restaurant owners and chefs in the Omaha area to call attention to the plight of the baby seals in Canada,” said Patricia Ragan, director of The HSUS ProtectSeals campaign. “Their message is simple: Canada must end the seal slaughter or people won’t buy their seafood.”



Since the launch of the seafood boycott by The HSUS in March 2005, the value of Canadian snow crab exports to the United States has dropped by $158 million CAD compared to the same time frame in the previous year -- a 32 percent decline.



“The Canadian seal hunt is a tragedy that needs to be brought to the attention of the public,” said Chef Lance Wang, of Omaha’s new, ultra trendy O Casual Dining.



A list of all companies supporting the Protect Seals boycott of Canadian seafood is available at www.RestaurantsForSeals.org.



CONTACT: Tracey McIntire, 301-548-7793, tmcintire@hsus.org



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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.

Marie E. Schwartz, CMA
Please Stop Buying Canadian Seafood.

www.shirtsforseals.com

To view the 6/12/06 Today Show expose on the Seal "Hunt," go to www.protectseals.org


"If most of us rounded a corner on a highway and saw a slaughter like this, we would call the police, we would scream until our throats gave out, we would probably charge the men with clubs. We wouldn’t say, “I’d do something, but there are so many other problems in the world …” Patti Davis, Newsweek, 4/6/05

We have been told ESPN will show the fly overs on Saturday and Sunday!