Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 3, 1 March 2017 — MONK SEAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MONK SEAL

By Lindsey Kesel nne of Hawai'i's most endearing and endangered species is making a steady eome-

% ā back, but there's mueh more ^ work to be done. According to the people who've been rolling up their sleeves to save them from extinction, Hawaiian monk seals are making a eomehaek. For the first time ever, the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, run by the NOAA Fisheries Paeihe Islands Fisheries Science Center, has a solid estimate that shows steady growth over the past three years - 1,400 seals in total, with around 1,100 in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and 300 in the main Hawaiian islands. Sheddina past trends, the

intrepid monk seal has increased by 3 percent per year for the past three years - but these creatures are not out of the woods yet. Historically, Hawaiian monk seals were rarely spotted in the main Hawaiian Islands and thought to be in decline since the 1950s, with over 70 percent of the population lost. Over the last few decades, however, seal sightings have risen, with a very promising 37 seal pup births reported in 2016. Though actual seal numbers have increased since 2013, the monk seal team is concerned about the long-term decline in abundance at the six main NWHI sites. Most of the NWHI seal population lives in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), where the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) was recently named a co-trustee.

Fostering a Culture of Coexistence The research and management programs continue to educate the public about the intrinsic needs of these creatures through strategic partnerships with Hawai'i Depart-

ment of Land and Natural Resources, U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the U.S. Coast Guard. Dr. Littnan and team are also hoping to gain a better understanding of the issues that could soon impact the species - loss of habitat, coral reef degradation and changes in food availability, all effects of climate change. Right now, they're vaccinating monk seals against the deadly morbillivirus to prevent disease outbreak and population collapse. Native Hawaiian practitioners and researchers have been makina their own observa-

tions and combing through historical accounts to better understand the plaee and role of the monk seal in Hawaiian tradition and culture. These efforts include comparing the behavior and characteristics of modern monk seals to the descriptions found in traditional accounts, ethnographic and oral history interviews with Native Hawaiian community members, archival research and document review - including Hawaiian language newspapers. "OHA applauds the NOAA Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program and their partners for their dedicated efforts that contribute to the survival of this species. We encourage continued discussion and the development of relationships with stakeholders and communities so that Native Hawaiian perspectives and traditional resource management techniques are integrated

into monk seal research and recovery activities," said OHA Ka Pouhana Kamana'opono Crabbe. 2017: The Year of the Monk Seal Celebrating a decade since the release of the working Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan, NOAA partners have dubbed 2017 "The Year of the Monk Seal." With all of the partners that have stepped up to share the responsibility of protecting Hawai'i's native seal, the year ahead will focus on finding new and creative ways to further engage loeal communities in an effort to get the monk seals off the critically endangered species list. "There is no silver bullet that will save the monk seals," says Dr. Littnan. "But the tangible positive impacts of our efforts during these last few years are reason to be very hopeful for eventual recovery." ■

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LAND & WATER

The Hawaiian monk seal populalion is making a eomehaek, primarily at Papahānaumokuākea Marine Nahonal MonumenL - Photos: Courtesy of NOM/Gardner