Shark Attack News Conference & Science Briefing -- Learn The Facts As Coastal Tourist Season Begins 5/13/2002
From: Ben Sherman of the National Sea Grant College Program, 202-662-7095 or 301-262-5495 (home) Gordon Helm of NOAA Fisheries, 301-713-2370 News Advisory: WHAT: News conference to introduce three experts on the issues of shark attacks, risk reduction techniques, and shark fishery biology and management. WHEN: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 9 a.m. WHERE: 1st Amendment Lounge, National Press Club 13th Floor, 529 14th Street Northwest, Washington D.C. WHO: George Burgess, Director, International Shark Attack File, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Robert E. Hueter, Director Center for Shark Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL Rebecca Lent, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, and former Chief of Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NOAA Fisheries, Silver Spring, MD. WHY: The public perception of the risk of shark bites and attacks was heightened through intensive news media coverage following last summer's shark attack fatalities. The press briefing will aim to put the risk of shark attacks in perspective; provide both the news media and the general public with resources where they can go to learn more about sharks and how to reduce their risk of a shark encounter; and to provide the media with additional scientific and fishery management background material. SPONSORS: National Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Fisheries SATELLITE BROADCAST AVAILABLE: The Sea Grant Press Conference on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 will be available on satellite for free and unrestricted use by news organizations. LIVE BROADCAST TIME: 9-10:30 a.m. EASTERN TIME Test Time: 8:45-9 a.m. EASTERN TIME SATELLITE: Ku-band analog SBS-6 Transponder: 3K 74 degrees West Longitude Audio: 6.2/6.8 Downlink Freq: 11774 HORIZONTAL WEBCAST LIVE: A live webcast will be found at: http://www.ConnectLive.com/events/seagrant EMAIL QUESTIONS: For reporters outside of the metro DC area we will take advance questions which will be asked of the speakers after all reporters in the room have completed their questioning. The email questions will be asked on a time available basis and be available via the web and satellite broadcast. Send email questions to Ben Sherman at sherman@nasw.org by 5 p.m. Monday, May 20. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ben Sherman, National Media Relations Director, National Sea Grant College Program, 202-662-7095, 301-262-5495 (home), Email: sherman@nasw.org Gordon Helm, Chief Public Affairs, NOAA Fisheries, 301-713-2370, Email: gordon.j.helm@noaa.gov |