The Monachus-Guardian — Headlines-News-Articles — 2008-2018
Dedicated to Monk Seals and their Threatened Habitats
A Care2 petition is attempting to raise a target of 1,000 signatures to present to IUCN, the World Conservation Union on behalf of the critically-endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
The petition urges the international organisation to take action to save the species.
An IUCN General Assembly Resolution in 2008 called upon its Secretary General and Pinniped Specialist Group to mount an international effort on behalf of Europe’s most endangered marine mammal — so far to little tangible effect.
The October-November 2010 monthly update from the FWS Papahānaumokuākea team provides the following information on Hawaiian monk seals at French Frigate Shoals and Laysan Island:
“[…] And here’s an update on the monk seals at French Frigate Shoals: 36 monk seal pups have been born; 5 are still nursing; 21 have weaned (3 of those weaned pups were taken by sharks); 1 pup died before it was weaned; 6 pups have disappeared; and finally, 2 weaned pups on East Island suffered nonfatal shark bites. […]
Monk seal deworming efforts on Laysan Island have been cancelled. Results from fecal sampling did not show enough of an improvement to justify the disturbance of the animals. […]”
Wonderful photographs of the most endangered seal on the planet The Mediterranean Monk Seal by Nuno Sá off The Desertas Islands archipelago part of the Portuguese region of Madeira where there is a small but growing colony of the seals.
‘Wild Wonders of Europe’ website reports:
“Nuno was privileged to capture the courtship and mating behaviour of this extremely rare marine mammal.”
Wild Wonders of Europe Gallery
Full Story [Madeira News Blog]
This announces the availability of a toll-free phone number where you can leave your scoping comments regarding the PEIS for monk seal recovery actions for the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) consideration.
If you wish to make verbal comments regarding the PEIS please dial 1-855- HMS-PEIS (1-855-467-7347). After the recorded message please clearly state your full name followed with the spelling, your affiliation (if any), your mailing or email address, and phone number (in case we need to contact you for clarification). The mailbox has a 10-minute limit per message, and if you need additional time we ask that you phone back. The voicemail box is secure and only accessible by select staff on the NMFS project team.
Continue reading “Scoping comment phone line for Hawaiian monk seal recovery actions PEIS”
With a dwindling Hawaiian monk seal population, federal officials are proposing a new plan to improve the survival of the endangered species. However, some Molokai fishermen say they are worried the plan could come at their expense.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is preparing a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for an action plan that seeks to relocate monk seals to Molokai and other islands.
The NFMS is considering moving recently-weaned female pups from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) to the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for three years. During this time, the seals would be released among wild pups and be monitored and studied before being returned to their respective islands. […]
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) is proposing to implement specific management actions and administer the associated research and enhancement program for Hawaiian monk seals in the Hawaiian Islands. Public comments were due by November 15, 2010. NMFS has decided to allow additional time for submission of public comments on this action (75 FR 69398-69399). The scoping period for the PEIS is extended to November 30, 2010. Written comments must be received or postmarked by November 30, 2010.
Continue reading “Hawaiian monk seal recovery actions – PEIS scoping period extension”