hawaiian monk seal population update northwestern hawaiian islands

Hawaiian Monk Seal Hawaiian Monk Seal Population UpdatePopulation Update

Northwestern Hawaiian IslandsNorthwestern Hawaiian Islands

Pacific Island Fisheries Science CenterPacific Island Fisheries Science Center

Abundance Trend at 6 NWHI Abundance Trend at 6 NWHI SubpopulationsSubpopulations

- 4.2% yr-1

Year

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Est

imat

ed A

bu

nd

ance

(±

2 s.

e.)

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

-4.5% per yr

180° 175W 170W 165W 160W 155W15N

20N

25N

30N

Nihoa I.Necker I.

French Frigate Shoals

Laysan I.

Lisianski I.

Pearl and Hermes Reef

Midway Atoll

Kure Atoll

Main Hawaiian IslandsNorthwestern Hawaiian Islands

198

193158decline

15650

93 decline

~150 growing?decline

2009 NWHI Pop. Total = 848

Births - 6 Main NWHI SubpopulationsBirths - 6 Main NWHI Subpopulations

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

Pup

s B

orn

(min

imum

)

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

Research/ProjectsResearch/Projects

Ongoing Population Assessment Ongoing Foraging Studies Shark Predation Mitigation at FFS Translocations De-Worming trials

Main Hawaiian Islands

Monk Seal Update

Pacific Island Fisheries Science CenterPacific Island Fisheries Science Center

Photo by DB Dunlap

180° 175W 170W 165W 160W 155W15N

20N

25N

30N

Nihoa I.Necker I.

French Frigate Shoals

Laysan I.

Lisianski I.

Pearl and Hermes Reef

Midway Atoll

Kure Atoll

Main Hawaiian IslandsNorthwestern Hawaiian Islands

198

193158decline

15650

93 decline

~150 growing?decline

2009 NWHI Pop. Total = 848

2009 MHI Population Update2009 MHI Population Update(excluding Niihau)(excluding Niihau)

118 seals identified in 2009 15 pups born 12 hookings 5 deaths

Number of Seals Identified Per Number of Seals Identified Per Island in 2009Island in 2009

?

4235

45

1

10

8

5

•Seals sighted on all islands

•Movement of seals between islands common

•Uncertain Niihau population

Year1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Pup

s B

orn

0

5

10

15

20

25

30MHI BirthsMHI Births

includes Niihau

Number of Births Per Island Number of Births Per Island 20092009

6

52

6

0

2

0

0

2009 Deaths2009 Deaths

3 Intentional Killings (2-Kauai, 1-Molokai)3 Intentional Killings (2-Kauai, 1-Molokai) 1 pup swept out to sea (Kauai)1 pup swept out to sea (Kauai) 1 pup – unknown cause (Maui)1 pup – unknown cause (Maui)

13

Monk Seal Hookings 1982-2009

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

NWHI

MHI

Nu

mb

er

of

Hookin

gs

Update for 2010 (May)Update for 2010 (May)

Births: 5 pups bornKauai=2, Mol.=2, Kahoolawe=1

Deaths: 4RTX1 - Molokai (perinatal pup death) RB20 - Lanai (unknown) RH40 - Kauai (unknown)RA14 - Oahu (gillnet)

Hookings: 8 Kauai=4, Oahu=2, Maui=2

Population Assessment Pilot Project

Cell Phone Tags

Health Screening

Genetic Studies: prey analysis, paternity

MHI Research ActivitiesMHI Research Activities

MHI Pop. AssessmentMHI Pop. Assessment

Pop. Assessment pilot project 8 week effort between Oct-Dec 2009 Islands covered: Kauai, Molokai, Maui,

Lanai, Hawaii 48 seals identified 27 seals bleached Future plans under

review

MHI Cell Phone TagsMHI Cell Phone Tags

Application of cell phone tags over 2-yr period

Attempt to apply 45 tags in MHI 8 tags applied to date (Kauai, Oahu, Mol)

Photo by: Barbara Billand

RI11, RI11, MolokaiMolokai

RI11 DivesRI11 Dives

R012, Oahu (4/4 - 4/11)

Kermit heads to KauaiKermit heads to Kauai

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Thank you to our many partners including the State of Hawaii, National Park Service, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, University of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, U.S. Coast Guard, and City and County Lifeguards. Special thanks are extended to the NWHI field staff and support, monk seal response coordinators and all of the dedicated monk seal volunteers.

23

Semi-Annual Seal Count

October 16th – counts done concurrently on all MHI

Best estimate of current populations

Important now that populations are expanding

24

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)to analyze the environmental impacts of implementing specific management actions and administering the associated research and enhancement program for Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) in the Northwestern and Main Hawaiian Islands

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

Enhanced Implementation Alternative (Proposed Action): Include, but are not limited to:1. Vaccination studies (including potential vaccination);2. Aversive conditioning (e.g., the development of tools to modifyundesirable seal behavior including interactions with humans or domesticanimals);3. Archipelago-wide translocation to improve juvenile survival; and4. De-worming

Public Scoping Meeting:Thursday, October 21, 2010, 6 - 9 p.m., Mokupa˜papa Discovery Center,308 Kamehameha Avenue, Suite 109, Hilo, Hawai‘i;

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement