URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
For Monday/June 22, 2015
Contact: Stu Chaifetz, (856) 428 2635 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mary Finelli, FISH FEEL (301) 625-9321
Maryland Governor Asked to Immediately End Bloody Marine Slaughter; Undercover Video Exposes Horrific Cownose Ray Killings
ANNAPOLIS, MD – A news conference here Monday (June 22) will premiere exclusive, undercover footage of the massive bloody slaughter of marine life last weekend in the Patuxent River in which hundreds of Cownose Rays were mercilessly shot with arrows and beaten with metal bats by bowfishers before being dumped in the waterway.
The so-called "Battle of the Rays" tournament was held on the Patuxent River tributary of Chesapeake Bay. More than 100 bowfishers in dozens of boats participated. Previously released undercover video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2H-aY-5s6I) documents the slaughter of Cownose Rays from the water and how they were dumped into the river after the contest was over.
The new footage, which will be revealed at the news conference, deals with what happened at the weigh-in station - how many of the rays killed were pregnant, gave birth when killed, and how the contestants then sickeningly misused the dead baby rays.
“What happened to these pregnant animals was truly horrifying. Contestants showed a complete disregard for life and caused incredible pain and suffering to these innocent animals. We are calling on Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to take immediate action to stop these despicable and heinous tournaments from ever happening again,” said investigator Stuart Chaifetz of SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness).
"There is no valid justification for the vicious massacre of these gentle creatures who are merely trying to survive. Scientists and the government have expressed disapproval of such reckless slaughter, and of the grave environmental consequences that could result," said Mary Finelli, President of Silver Spring-based Fish Feel.
The undercover videos were a joint effort between SHARK, an international animal protection watchdog group, and Fish Feel, the sole organization working exclusively for the protection of all fish.
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