A dead Hawaiian monk seal was recovered off the Nanakuli coastline on Oʻahu, according to officials. NOAA Fisheries and local response partners retrieved the animal and plan to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death. The agency thanked members of the public for quickly reporting the animal and urged anyone with information to call the marine wildlife hotline.
Recovery and next steps
NOAA Fisheries said its response partners, including the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department, the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response and NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, worked together to recover the body and move it for examination. As reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, NOAA planned the necropsy following the recovery.
What necropsies can reveal
During necropsies, NOAA looks for signs of disease, entanglement, trauma or other clues that might explain an animal’s death and inform future conservation work. The Hawaiian monk seal is an endangered species, and responders ask the public to report sick, injured, entangled, stranded or dead seals to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840, according to NOAA Fisheries.
Partners and community response
NOAA’s update publicly thanked community members for sounding the alarm so quickly and credited local agencies for helping with the recovery. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that officials have not released the seal’s identity or a cause of death while testing and review continue.
Protections and enforcement
Hawaiian monk seals are protected under federal laws including the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and unauthorized disturbance or harassment can lead to enforcement actions or civil penalties, according to NOAA Fisheries. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said it is investigating separate social-media footage that appears to show a person throwing an object at a seal off Lahaina, and that DOCARE is coordinating with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, per a DLNR news release.
If you see an injured or dead monk seal, call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840. Officials ask beachgoers to give seals space, keep dogs leashed and stay at least 50 feet from hauled-out animals so responders can work safely.
