Gillnet Ban Rabbit Island Letter Writing **Attention Volunteers **

Aloha Good People:

We need your letters.... and we have to take action now! It is recommended you send a letter to the DLNR attention Laura Thielen AND a letter to our district representative.
Below are THREE areas that should help you with this task....

1st.. here is a link to find out who your district reps are:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/

2nd... here are some important talking points:
Some facts:

1. The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources has authority to close or restrict coastal waters with respect to taking or attempting to take any endangered species, or to otherwise regulate fishing gear and locations for the conservation of listed species. HRS. § 195D-3(b).

2. "An interim rule may be adopted in the event that the …taking…of any indigenous species, in the absence of effective rules, creates a significant risk of a local extirpation or species extinction, which is so imminent in nature as to constitute an emergency." HRS § 195D-6.5

3. “The purpose of this Act [32, which amended HRS Section 195D with thesubsection 6.5 cited just above] is to authorize the department of land and natural resources to adopt, implement, and enforce interim rules in order to prevent the extinction of Hawaii’s native species.” The legislature enacted this law which was submitted as part of Governor Lingle’s 2004 legislative package. available at: http://wwww.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2004bills/HB2498_hd1_.htm.

4. “The Hawaiian Monk Seal is in crisis: the population is in a decline that has lasted 20 years and only around 1200 monk seals remain. Modeling predicts the species’ population will fall below 1000 animals in the next five years. Like the extinct Caribbean monk seal and the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal, the Hawaiian monk seal is headed to extinction if urgent action is not taken.” 2007 Monk Seal Recovery Plan, at v.

5. Of four “key actions required to alter the trajectory of the Hawaiian monk seal population and to move the species towards recovery,” two concern actions in the MHI and include: “Ensure the continued natural growth of the Hawaiian monk seal in the MHI by reducing threats including interactions with recreational fisheries, disturbance of mother-pup pairs, disturbance of hauled out seals, and exposure to human and domestic animal diseases….; [and] [r]educe the probability of the introduction of infectious diseases into the Hawaiian monk seal population.” 2007 Monk Seal Recovery Plan, at vii.

6. Because of known mortalities and injuries sustained by Hawaiian monk seals as a result of state fisheries activities authorized under state regulations, the state of Hawai`i is in continuing violation of the federal Endangered Species Act’s prohibitions of unauthorized “takes.”

and 3rd... here is a draft letter you can use or reference:

Honorable Laura ThielenDirector
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Kalanimoku Building1151 Punchbowl StreetHonolulu, HI 96813 Honorable Thielen:

Reference: Hawaiian Monk Seal, State of Hawaii’s Mammal
Emergency Ban on Gillnets, Rabbit Island

This correspondence is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Division of Aquatic Resources to extend the ban on gillnets from the Makai pier to the Makapuu point, including Manana Island, also known as Rabbit Island. The Department of Land and Natural Resources has within its authority to extend this temporary emergency ban on gillnets for a minimum of 180 days, while the newly born Hawaiian Monk Seal is nursing and learns foraging behavior.

Last year, a newly born Hawaiian Monk Seals became tangled in gillnets off Rabbit Island and drowned. This is not the first incident Hawaiian Monk Seals have been entangled in gillnets. The continuation of the 13 million year heritage of this State of Hawaii Mammal is in serious jeopardy, as the female breeding population has been adversely impacted by the decreasing juvenile female population. Gillnets are a central cause for this adverse impact.

A long term solution needs to be developed to comply with the spirit of the requirements within the Endangered Species Act and the maintenance of this precious Hawaiian treasure. The Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal produced by the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration can be obtained by members of your staff that has been compiled by subject matter experts working toward the preservation of the Hawaiian Monk Seal. Please encourage your representatives to meet with the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a mutually agreed to plan focused on the future of this Hawaiian treasure.

The immediate need is to protect the pup born on Rabbit Island, while it is nursing and developing foraging behavior. Please extend the temporary emergency measure banning gillnets by Rabbit Island for at least another 180 days.

Sincerely,

Name

* Thank you Jerry for drafting a letter, Patricia for emailing info, ALL the people that have been rallying to get this through.... PLEASE write your letters and get your friends, family, kids to write letters as well. We know from the letter writing is very effective!
Mahalo! ~donna~