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Paid not to fish

Media Watch, Christopher Pala, Honolulu Weekly, 13 October 2010

Some folks made a killing depleting the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Wait ‘til you see how much they’ll make not to fish there anymore.

The news came innocuously enough, in a press release earlier this year from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. As a result of former President George W. Bush’s designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a marine national monument in June 2006, Congress appropriated funds to compensate the owners of seven bottomfish licenses and 15 lobster licenses because they would no longer be able to fish there. The bottom-fishermen would share $2.2 million, the lobster fishermen $4.3 million. All licenses had been given out for free. […]

After two temporary closures by NOAA, the Honolulu federal court closed the fishery again in 2000 because of still-disputed evidence that the collapse of the lobster population had triggered mass starvation among monk seal pups, and that in turn caused a 5 percent yearly decline in the monk seal population. The fishery was never reopened, presumably because the lobster stocks never recovered, and the monk seal pups in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are still starving. […]

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Orphaned monk seal pup rescued on Evia

© MOm, P. DendrinosGreek monk seal research and protection NGO MOm, announced today that it had rescued an orphaned Mediterranean monk seal pup on the Aegean island of Evia on 8 October 2010.

The pup had been observed struggling in stormy seas and strong winds of 8 Beaufort before emerging onto Pili beach on Evia’s northern coast. Residents contacted the Port Police, who in turn alerted MOm, setting the rescue in operation.

According to MOm’s Rescue Coordinator, Marianna Psaradellis, the male pup, who has been named “Lazarus”, is approximately 10 days old, and is presumed to have been separated from its mother by the storm. Initial diagnosis on site found Lazarus to be suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and exhaustion.

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Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions

NOAA Fisheries | Office of Protected Resources, 1 October 2010

On October 1, 2010, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Regional Office provided public notice that it is preparing a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to assess the impacts of implementing specific management actions and administering a research and enhancement program to improve survival of Hawaiian monk seals.

Please read our newsletter for more information regarding the PEIS process and how you can participate.

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Update from Papahānaumokuākea

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

The August 2010 monthly update provides the following information on Hawaiian monk seals from the FWS Papahānaumokuākea team:

Two Hawaiian monk seals in danger of entanglement, as they rest on a pile of derelict fishing gear. John Klavitter/USFWS

“Hawaiian Islands NWR – French Frigate Shoals/ Tern Island […] Staff conducted marine debris pickups throughout the month. On one day alone, a full pallet tub of debris, nets, rope, wire, and trash was removed from East Island. Removal of netting, ropes, and wire is especially important to prevent Hawaiian monk seals and green turtles from potentially becoming entangled. […]

The French Frigate Shoals updates regarding Hawaiian monk seal activities are: 36 monk seal pups have been born; 5 are still nursing; 21 have weaned (of which 3 were killed by sharks); 1 pup died before it was weaned; and 6 pups have disappeared. Two weaned pups with nonfatal shark bites were frequenting East Island. […]

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Seal sightings in Lebanon

Simon Nadim, Managing Director of the Pure Tech Diving Facility in Batroun, Lebanon, has contacted TMG to report two separate sightings of a Mediterranean monk seal, on the 15.08.2010 and 04.09.2010 respectively.

The encounters both occurred whilst diving amongst caves in northern Lebanon and were recorded on video. The animal is reported to be at least 2m in length, and is evidently in good condition.

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Race raises $18,000 for monk seal rehab

Team swimmer Marjorie Boor. © Marine Mammal Center

The swim across the Maui Channel to raise funds for a dedicated rehabilitation unit for the critically-endangered Hawaiian monk seal has raised  $18,130, according to Cheryl Reiss of the Marine Mammal Center.

The all-female team of six from the Center  joined 52 other teams and 20 solo swimmers from around the world in a daring crossing of the Au Au channel, the MMC reported in a post-race statement. The channel is well known for dangers to swimmers such as swift currents, tiger sharks, and the Portuguese Man O’ War.

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