UNVEILED AT 39TH ANNUAL SURF FESTIVAL IN COCOA BEACH |
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COCOA BEACH FL, April 18, 2003 -- Today at the 39th Easter Surfing Festival, The HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic
Institution will kick off sales of the new "Protect Florida Whales" specialty license plate in collaboration with
Ron Jon's Surf Shop, the Wyland Foundation, Bombardier and Canon USA. Proceeds from the plates will support research
and other work aimed at protection of whales in Florida waters.
Those purchasing a whale tag, and those who sign up at the Protect Florida Whales event booth are eligible to win numerous prizes including a customized Bombardier GTX Sea Doo personal watercraft, and dozens of Canon digital cameras and waterproof housings. Renowned "Artist of the Sea" Wyland, whose famous whale murals can be seen around the world, designed the whale plate as well as artwork on the new GTX Sea Doo. Funds from sales of the new plate will be used to support HARBOR BRANCH's efforts to study and protect more than a dozen species of whales who utilize FloridaÕs coastal water, and to rehabilitate stranded or otherwise injured whales. These efforts include work now underway to build the world's first marine mammal teaching hospital and rehabilitation center at HARBOR BRANCHÕs campus. This multi-million-dollar facility will offer veterinary education, provide care for injured or diseased whales, and act as an incubator for marine mammal research. Steve McCulloch, HARBOR BRANCH Dolphin & Whale Research Director, who spearheaded establishment of the whale plate program, said hundreds of strandings over recent years, as well as a recent and as yet unexplained increase in whale strandings along Florida's coast emphasize the need for further research and the new hospital. The majority of these tragedies occur along Florida's East Coast where there are currently no long-term marine mammal care facilities. Ten percent of plate sale funds will go to the Wyland Foundation to support educational programs in Florida that promote marine mammal and ocean conservation. "The Wyland Foundation looks forward to helping educate a new generation about the importance of these magnificent marine mammals by combining science and art with children's natural interest in the world around them," said Wyland. State Senator Ken Pruitt is excited about the future of the whale tag program. "It is an exciting venture for [HARBOR BRANCH], for our community, and for the future of the Florida whales. I was so proud to be a part of it," he said. Representative Gayle Harrell and Governor Jeb Bush were also instrumental in establishing the whale tag program. Protect Florida Whales plates are now available at your local county tax collector offices and cost $25, which is tax-deductible, in addition to normal license plate fees. For more information or for a high-resolution image of the whale tag, please visit: http://www.protectfloridawhales.org HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution, Inc., is one of the world's leading nonprofit oceanographic research organizations dedicated to exploration of the earth's oceans, estuaries and coastal regions for the benefit of humankind. CONTACTS: Mark Schrope - Science Writer 772-465-2400 x433 • schrope@hboi.edu Stephen McCulloch, HARBOR BRANCH Director of Dolphin & Whale Research 772-201-1535 • mcculloch@hboi.edu Jan Petri - Government and Public Relations 772-465-2400 x241 • petri@hboi.edu |