State officials are asking boaters, fishermen and swimmers on Kaua‘i and throughout the state not to feed endangered Hawaiian monk seals and that to do so violates federal and state laws. State Department of Land and Natural Resources officials issued
State officials are asking boaters, fishermen and swimmers on Kaua‘i and throughout the state not to feed endangered Hawaiian monk seals and that to do so violates federal and state laws.
State Department of Land and Natural Resources officials issued the request this week after the agency received reports of boaters recently feeding a seal at Port Allen and another at Nawiliwili Harbor.
Officials reported the seals followed boats making their way to the harbors, and that well-intentioned people on board the crafts may have been feeding the animals.
Feeding is harmful to the animals and dangerous to people who feed them, officials said in a news release.
The seal may become aggressive while begging for food, and may bite someone.
In such cases, or if the seal becomes attached to someone, the animal may have to be relocated to ensure its survival, DLNR officials said.
In a recent case, a young monk seal at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island had to be relocated to an undisclosed location.
Having a monk seal depend on humans for food does not bode well for it, agency officials indicated.
Monk seals are natural hunters, and changing their natural behavior by feeding them could decrease their ability to survive without human help, officials said.
The feeding of the monk seals may affect animal’s willingness to hunt on their own, and the altered way of obtaining food may affect young animals who need to learn foraging skills, officials said.
People can help protect Hawaiian monks seals by observing them at a “respectful distance” of at least 50 yards and refraining from swimming with them or feeding them, officials said.
If people come across an injured seal, they can call the DLNR enforcement division at 274-3521, the operator and ask for Enterprise 5469 for after hour calls and NOAA Fisheries at 1-808-256-9840, a 24-hour number for reporting marine mammal emergencies.
For additional information and viewing guidelines for viewing marine animals, please go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/MMViewing.html.
