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Fishermen oppose extra protections for Hawaiian monk seals

Media Watch, Honolulu Civil Beat, 11 August 2011

Hawaiian monk seals and local fishermen haven’t been getting along very well. And fishermen aren’t happy about a proposal to extend a conservation zone around the main Hawaiian islands to further protect the endangered species.

This was the message conveyed to representatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration throughout two hours of heated testimony on Thursday at Ala Moana Beach Park.

More than 60 people turned out for the public hearing to discuss the proposal that would expand the critical habitat area for the seals, which have been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1976. It is illegal to harass or kill the seals. […]

But the plight of the monk seal hasn’t swayed many fishermen, if the testimony at the public hearing is any indication.

“They’re more of a nuisance than anything else right now,” said Brandon Hu. “I fish a lot at night. One of those seals started hiding under my boat. It takes fish from my lines, then my partner’s line. We’re losing fish left and right. We moved three miles down the coast. The monk seal started following us. They are already trained to be looking for our boats for a free handout.”

While only 153 monk seals are believed to be trolling the waters around the main Hawaiian islands, fishermen complained about the economic effects the seals were having on their fishing operations and their concern about the population growing. […]

Source: Fishermen oppose extra protections for Hawaiian monk seals, Honolulu Civil Beat, 11 August 2011

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NOAA plans to euthanize “rogue” monk seals

Media Watch, Hawaii News Now, 6 August 2011

NOAA says it plans to euthanize one and possibly two adult male Hawaiian monk seals at Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands this month to protect female monk seals and pups.

In a news release the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on Friday said that the male adult seals have been attacking and mortally wounding young female seals and pups at Kure over the last several years.

The news release says, the agencies responsible for management of the Monument are mandated to mitigate potential threats to an endangered species as well as respond to imminent threats and take all specific regulatory actions to aid the recovery of the species. Managers made the decision now due to the severe threat to the population at Kure.

“None of the managing agencies take this action lightly,” said Monument Management Board Chair Dan Polhemus. “The Board is in a very difficult situation with one of the toughest issues we have faced. If we do not take action, we risk additional young female seals being injured or killed by these males, and losing their future potential to reproduce and help increase the decimated monk seal population.” […]

NOAA says it has a five day window to euthanize the seals, the last day being August 10.

Source: NOAA plans to euthanize “rogue” monk seals, Hawaii News Now, 6 August 2011.

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Monk Seal ‘Desertinha’ on display in Madeira

— by Rosa Pires, Parque Natural da Madeira Service
‘Desertinha’ at the Museum of Natural History. Photo: Rosa Pires

Following her death in late 2008, Madeira’s most popular monk seal, “Desertinha”, will be put on public display as a taxidermic model. The work, by a Portuguese taxidermist and sponsored by Deutsche Bank, was first presented to the public on 17 June at the Museum of Natural History in the Botanical Gardens, Funchal.

‘Desertinha’ gained local fame in 2006 after sustaining a serious injury to the lower limbs, her plight creating a huge wave of sympathy from Madeirans. This resulted in the most prominent conservation campaign ever made in the region [see Seal finds stardom, TMG 9(2): 2006].

Desertinha was first identified in 1993 and was monitored by the staff of the Parque Natural da Madeira Service over 16 years. After being found ill in Madeira in 2008, she was transferred to the Rehabilitation Unit on the Desertas Islands, where she died due to cardiac arrest, on 1 December [see Our monk seal ambassador, ‘Desertinha’ dies in Madeira, TMG 12(1): 2009].

Following display at the Museum of Natural History, the Desertinha exhibit was presented at the Expo Madeira from 8 to 17 July. The work will be put on permanent display at the Whale Museum of Madeira, which will be inaugurated in September this year.

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Teenager fined $100 for slapping Hawaiian monk seal

Media Watch, Treehugger, 23 June 2011
Photo: Jared Wong / CC

Hawaiian monk seals have plenty to worry about these days, what with a sea full of hungry sharks and a long history of being hunted by humans — but now antics of rowdy teenagers has been added to that list. Last March, 19-year-old Cameron Cayaban saw one of the endangered seals and acted on a very bad idea: he ran up to the protected species and slapped it. The seal, undoubtedly confused by the offense, returned to the sea. Cameron, on the other hand, found himself in court.

Little did the seal-slapper realize that the animal had a name, and more than a few powerful friends watching out for it. There were a group of volunteer seal observers that day on Kalaeloa’s White Plains Beach, where the incident occurred, and they reported what young Cameron had done to Kermit (that’s the seal) to local military police. [Continues]

Source: Teenager to Pay $100 for Slapping, Endangered Seal, Treehugger, 23 June 2011.