hawaiian monk seal population update northwestern hawaiian islands
DESCRIPTION
Hawaiian Monk Seal Population Update Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center. Abundance Trend at 6 NWHI Subpopulations. - 4.2% yr -1. -4.5% per yr. 93. decline. 50. 156. 158. 193. decline. 198. decline. ~150 growing?. 2009 NWHI Pop. Total = 848. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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