General Instructions for the Seal Count

To: Interested Participants
From: NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office

Re: Bi-Annual Community Hawaiian Monk Seal Count

Mahalo for your interest in the Semi-annual Hawaiian Monk Seal Count. The Hawaiian Monk Seal Count was first established on April 28, 2007, with the future goal to have two, community-based counts per year: one in April and one in October. These dates are arranged in order to count monk seals at both the beginning and the end of the presumed pupping season in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). By October, most monk seal pups have been born. However, NMFS is seeing a rise in the number of pups born outside this presumed pupping season, and at some point in the future, we will likely see more puppings throughout the year, just as in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

The purpose of the Count is to:
• encourage community involvement with Hawaiian monk seals
• raise public awareness
• build response network capacity
• gather minimum population number information for continuing research of
Hawaiian monk seal habitat use in the MHI

All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Those species that are in danger of extinction are also protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as in the case of the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal. In both regulations above, it is important that the community effort of counting monk seals does not inadvertently harass them. It is illegal to harass monk seals which can be defined as altering or changing the animal’s behavior. Those engaged in the Count must follow a few simple guidelines. One suggestion is to stay at a minimum of 150 feet (ft) away from a monk seal. A good rule is the “rule of thumb.” If you place your thumb at arms length and parallel to the ground, the average-sized, adult monk seal placed in the area between the tip of your thumb and the first knuckle will be located at about 150 ft away. In some cases, this is not possible as the terrain of beach may prevent this. It is best to ensure that you change your route to cause no disturbance to monk seals.

By disturbance we mean the seal should not acknowledge you at all, which may include but are not limited to the following responses:
• looking at you
• lifting its head
• vocalizing
• retreating to the water
• otherwise changing its behavior

If a response from a monk seal occurs, you must provide a full description on your report form and notify your Island Coordinator immediately. There are only about 80-100 seals in the MHI, and the possibility of seeing a monk seal is remote. However, by having participants on the each from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. should provide the best effort for and opportunity of seeing the monk seals, especially since this is a common period for monk seals to haul out on beached. Monk seals will generally haul out between sunrise and the late morning, and rest throughout the day, returning to the water in the early evening.

In any event, your effort and participation are vitally important. In the past, Hawaiian Monk Seal Counts have discovered a new pup on Kauai, identified new places where seals reside, expanded our volunteer program and raised public awareness. Spreading the word about the critically endangered status of the Hawaiian monk seal and working to change public perception are as valuable as seeing a monk seal.

Good luck and Mahalo