Category: Hawaiian Monk Seal

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JUST PUBLISHED: Monachus Guardian December 2010

Just published: the December 2010 issue of The Monachus Guardian, the biannual journal focusing on the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CURRENT ISSUE:

Guest Editorial: Growing up with monk seals in Madeira, by Gil Pereira.

International News: IUCN let down…

Hawaiian News: Updates from Papahānaumokuākea and the Main Hawaiian Islands…

Mediterranean News: Greece: Lazarus dies in rehab… Mauritania: New productivity record… Turkey: Monk seal pup rescued in Aydıncık, Mersin…

Cover Story: Cave habitats used by Mediterranean monk seals in Sardinia, by Luigi Bundone.

In Focus I: Mediterranean monk seal mortality in 2010 in Greece, by Marianna Psaradellis, Vangelis Paravas and Alexandros A. Karamanlidis.

In Focus II: Three monk seal encounters in the Northern Gulf of Evia, Greece, by Giovanni Bearzi and Silvia Bonizzoni.

Perspectives: A new healthcare facility for Hawaiian monk seals in Kona, Hawaii, by Jeff Boehm.

Letters to the Editor: including Genetic scepticism – just how important is genetic research to the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal?

Recent Publications

The current and back issues of The Monachus Guardian are also available from the Monk Seal Library.

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A Privilege to See

Media Watch, The National Parks of the Pacific Region, 4 December 2010

This video, a joint project of various agencies/organizations including NOAA, features members of Kauai’s Native Hawaiian community sharing their perspectives on the Hawaiian monk seal.

Full Story

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Update from Papahānaumokuākea

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

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. […]”

Source

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Scoping comment phone line for Hawaiian monk seal recovery actions PEIS

NOAA announcement

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.

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Save Our Seals

Media Watch, The Molokai Dispatch, 11 November 2010

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. […]

Continue reading “Save Our Seals”

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Hawaiian monk seal recovery actions – PEIS scoping period extension

NOAA / PIRO [via Benn Levine, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), www.erm.com]

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.

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