Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals: What about "All Those Years Ago"?

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Hawaii is considered to be the "Endangered Species Capital of the World" with more than 317 plants and animal species that are endangered per sq. mile than anywhere else in the world.  The most endangered mammal that is on the endangered species list is the HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL and every day there is something on our local news stations about these precious creatures.

The Hawaiian Monk Seal usually lives around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (i.e. Midway Atoll,  Kure Atoll, French Frigate Shoals etc.) and because they are uninhabited and remote and very little human presence it is the perfect place to live for these easily disturbed creatures.

Where the population of the Monk Seal used to be high, it has decreased 11% per year since 1989 and is the MOST endangered marine mammal in the United States. One of the main factors for their decrease in population is contributed to discarded fish nets and lines that the monk seals get entagled in. Another contributing factor is that the Laysan and Lisianski male seals are attacking the females and the deaths are up to 10 to 11 seals on Laysan alone which is 4% of the island's populations.

Conservation Efforts:

• The efforts are overseen by the National Marine Fisheries Service and other private, government and universities. 
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages many remote islands as National Wildlife Refuges to protect their habitat
• They continuously monitor monk seal reproduction
• Monitor survival techniques and their behavior
• Volunteer groups remove leftover debri and discarded fishing nets/lines from the ocean and beaches
• The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy lend a hand in the remote areas as well.

Lately, the Hawaiian Monk Seal has been seen around our main Hawaiian Islands. About 120 now live around our main islands and on our island of Oahu they are frequently seen around the western side by Kaena Point. On our KGMB news this evening NOAA Marine Mammal Response Coordinator, David Schofield said while he's documenting the mammals he tries hard not to disrupt them. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act it is considered a violation and called "harassment" if you are walking along the beach and a Monk Seal lifts its head and vocalizes or retreats into the water because you disrupted it. WOW.

More on the KGMB 9 news story: Preserving Monk Seal Populations

Because of the crisis that the endangered species is now facing the NOAA will be signing a new recovery plan during a ceremony at the Waikiki Aquarium, August 22, 2007 and it is the first change in the plan since 1983. The Monk Seal's population is estimated at 1,200 and  they are estimating it will drop to 1,000 within the next three to four years.

They were listed as an endangered species in 1976 under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Critical habitat was designated in 1988 from beaches to a depth of 20 fathoms (120 feet) around the northwestern Hawaiian islands............The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

.................And now  the Hawaiian Monk Seal in a critical endangered species category facing extinction.

Everyone can help by:

• Respecting the privacy of the seal.
• Stay at least 150 feet away from the seal 
• Keep dogs on a leash so they do not disrupt or attack seals.
• Fishing seal friendly
• Report all monk seal sightings by calling NOAA hotline numbers. (Oahu call 220-7802; Neighbor Islands call toll free 888-256-9840)

All Those Years Ago.....George Harrison 

Hear them shouting all about love
While they treated you like a dog
When you were the one who had made it
so clear
All those years ago.

Hear them talking all about how to give
They don't act with much honesty
But you point the way to the truth when you say
All you need is love.

Living with good and bad
I always looked up to you
Now we're left cold and sad
By someone the devil's best friend
Someone who offended all.

We're living in a bad dream
They've forgotten all about mankind
And you were the one they backed up to
the wall
All those years ago
You were the one who Imagined it all
All those years ago.

Deep in the darkest night
I send out a prayer to you
Now in the world of light
Where the spirit free of the lies
And all else that we despised.

They've forgotten all about God
He's the only reason we exist
Yet you were the one that they said was
so weird
All those years ago
You said it all though not many had ears
All those years ago
You had control of our smiles and our tears
All those years ago