Where Did All the Hawaiian Monk Seals Go?

LISTING DATE: 23 DECEMBER 1976             LISTING TYPE: ENDANGERED

HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL

BY JACQUELYN ANAYA

CAUSE OF LISTING

• Population decline that lasted 20 years
• Only 1200 monk seals remain
• Population will fall below 1000 animals in the next five years
• Recovery priority number one

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?                                          www.conservationcutie.blogspot.com

That means that based on the monk seal's high magnitude of threats but also its high recovery potential it is a number one recovery priority. However, with implementing recovery actions there is potential for economic conflicts.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MONK SEAL

If you were a monk seal you would spend two thirds of your time exploring and enjoying the deep blue ocean.  You would devour an array of fresh seafood ranging from fish to eel and squid. However, there is limited food available in this ocean you call home. To get your food you dive to depths that range up to 500m.  You would wear the title of only endangered marine mammal whose entire species range lies within the United States with pride. You hate people who encroach on your beaches with their loud dogs and vehicles. They have scared you away from some of your favorite hangouts and places you like to have your babies. You are also not a big fan of fishers.

WHERE ARE ALL THE MONK SEALS?                   WWW.SCIENCEBUZZ.ORG

Monk Seals are found throughout the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands including the population's six main reproductive sites. monk seals are also found throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands. Some smaller breading sub-populations can be found on Necker and Nihoa as well.

MAIN THREATS TO OUR FRIEND THE MONK SEAL

• Very low survival of baby monk seals due to starvation
• Entanglement of seals in marine debris
• Galapagos sharks eating baby seals
• Human Interactions specifically recreational fishery interactions, mother-pup disturbance on popular beaches, and exposure to disease
• Hawaiian monk seal pupping beaches (where they give birth) being lost to erosion
• Monk seal prey resources may have been reduced as a result of climate cycles
• Potential disease outbreaks could have a devastating effect due to small population size and limited geographic range.

www.pifsc.noaa.gov

POPULATION CHANGES

* USCG LORAN station created human disturbance which caused adult females to abandon prime pupping habitat

*The increase from 1983-2000 is due to the fact that human disturbance at prime pupping areas was reduced and in 1992 the LORAN station was closed.

LET'S SAVE THE MONK SEALS!

Monk Seal Recovery Plan

• Improve the survivorship of females, particularly juveniles, in sub-populations of the NWHI.
• Maintain the extensive field presence during the breeding season in the NWHI.
• Ensure the natural growth of the Hawaiian monk seal in the MHI by reducing threats including interactions with recreational fisheries, disturbance of mother-pup pairs, disturbance of hauled out seals, and exposure to human and domestic animal diseases.
• Reduce the probability of the introduction of infectious diseases into the Hawaiian monk seal population
• Continuing actions to remove marine debris and reduce mortality of seals due to entanglement
• Continuing actions to protect females from individual and multiple male aggression

INFORMATION FOUND:

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/hawaiianmonkseal.pdf

http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/