Hawaii Monk seal

a hawaiian monk seal sleeping on beach in kauai


threats

in nineteenth century, many seals killed whalers , sealers meat, oil , skin. u.s. military forces hunted them during world war ii, while occupying laysan island , midway island. human disturbances have had immense effects on populations of hawaiian monk seal. monk seals tend avoid beaches disturbed; after continual disturbance seal may abandon beach, reducing habitat size, subsequently limiting population growth. instance, large beach crowds , beach structures limit seal’s habitat. wwii military bases in northwestern islands closed, minimal human activities can enough disturb species. current population around 1,400 individuals.

the hawaiian monk seal has lowest level of genetic variability among 18 pinniped species, allegedly due population bottleneck caused intense hunting in 19th century. limited genetic variability reduces species s ability adapt environmental pressures , limits natural selection increasing risk of extinction. given monk seal s small population, effects of disease disastrous.

entanglement can result in mortality because when seals trapped in marine debris such fishing nets cannot maneuver or reach surface breathe. marine fisheries can potentially interact monk seals via direct , indirect relationships. directly seal can become snared fishing equipment, entangled in discarded debris, , feed on fish refuse. international law prohibits intentional discarding of debris ships @ sea. monk seals have 1 of highest documented rates of entanglement of pinniped species.

conservation

in 1909, theodore roosevelt created hawaiian islands national wildlife refuge (hinwr), under jurisdiction of u.s. fish , wildlife service (usfws). throughout 1980s, national marine fisheries service completed various versions of environmental impact statement designated northwest hawaiian islands critical habitat hawaiian monk seal. designation prohibited lobster fishing in northwest hawaiian islands , laysan island. in 2006, presidential proclamation established papahanaumokuakea marine national monument, incorporated northwestern hawaiian islands coral reef ecosystem reserve, midway atoll national wildlife refuge, hawaiian islands national wildlife refuge, , battle of midway national memorial, creating largest marine protected area in world , affording hawaiian monk seal further protection.

noaa cultivated network of volunteers protect seals while bask or bear , nurse young. noaa funding considerable research on seal population dynamics , health in conjunction marine mammal center. noaa, several programs , networks formed in order monk seal. community programs such piro have helped improve community standards hawaiian monk seal. program creates networks native hawaiians on island network more people in fight conservation of seals. marine mammal response network (mmrn) partnered noaa , several other government agencies deal land , marine wildlife.

to raise awareness of species plight, on june 11, 2008, state law designated hawaiian monk seal hawaii s official state mammal.