Moana, Hawaiʻi’s 2-yo monk seal, discovered lifeless

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A younger Hawaiian monk seal has died after turning into entangled in fishing gear, and it’s prompted renewed requires safer fishing practices all through Hawaiʻi.

The seal, often called RS34 or Moana, was found earlier this month on Mānana Island. Officers with the Division of Land and Pure Sources stated the trigger was paddle-out or drone-out fishing utilizing a “jug rig” variant.

Moana was 2 years previous. She was born in 2023 because the fourth pup of her mom, RF34, and was named by college students at Mālama Honua Elementary Faculty in Waimānalo.

Risks of jug fishing

Wildlife officers defined that jug rigs use very sturdy fishing line and infrequently embrace an empty family jug to drift baited hooks.

If a line breaks, the caught animal can drag lots of of yards of line and the jug. This typically results in entanglement, exhaustion or loss of life.

“Jug fishing is a particularly unsustainable and undiscerning fishing technique,” stated John Silberstein, Oʻahu Department Chief of the DLNR Division of Conservation and Sources Enforcement. “This incident is a reminder that the alternatives we make on the water have an effect on extra than simply fish.”

Officers stated that whereas these strategies could look just like bait casting or slide baiting, they create larger dangers of misplaced gear that may hurt marine mammals, turtles and different non-target species.

A name for pono fishing

“Moana’s loss of life underscores the significance of accountable fishing practices,” stated Luna Kekoa, supervisor of DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Sources Protected Species Program. “Deserted fishing gear poses a big menace to endangered wildlife, which is why selling pono fishing is a precedence for DAR.”

The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and DLNR urged fishers to keep away from paddle-out jug fishing and related high-risk strategies. Drone fishing, aside from reconnaissance, is banned statewide; and penalties embrace escalated fines.

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Officers additionally inspired fishers to report misplaced or taken gear immediately so response groups may also help animals in danger.

They beneficial utilizing solely barbless circle hooks, recovering snagged gear on the finish of journeys and avoiding areas the place fishing strains could endanger swimmers, surfers or boaters.

Defending a uncommon species

There are about 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals left on this planet. Every loss of life impacts the survival of the species, which is already endangered.

NOAA and DLNR harassed that fishing responsibly and reporting gear interactions are important to defending these animals.

You may observe this recommendation that comes instantly from DLNR since your decisions affect your long-term skill to proceed fishing in Hawaiʻi waters:

• “Keep away from paddle-out jug fishing and related high-risk strategies. These strategies can pose the next danger of entanglement and damage to non-target species. Use of aerial drones for the aim of fishing (aside from reconnaissance) is banned statewide. Penalties embrace escalating fines,” defined DLNR.

• “Report misplaced or taken gear instantly. We all know that accidents can occur. If a seal takes hooked bait or runs off with fishing gear, reporting it to NOAA and DLNR provides response groups vital info to look out for the animal and intervene if wanted,” DLNR suggested.

• “Fish pono. Correct gear use and secure disposal assist maintain each fishing sources and Hawaiʻi’s marine wildlife,” DLNR emplored.

• “Should you do paddle strains out, it is strongly recommended that you simply:

  • Use solely barbless circle hooks.

  • Make a plan to paddle out and get well misplaced or snagged gear on the finish of each journey. By no means free a snagged line by chopping the principle line from shore.

  • Keep away from fishing in areas the place strains could pose a hazard to surfers, swimmers, boaters, or different ocean customers,” DLNR advised.

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To report entangled monk seals or misplaced gear, name the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at 888-256-9840.

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