July 15th Kermit's Disentanglement

Aloha Good People,

David Schofield gave me permission to post this report pertaining to Kermit disentanglement yesterday. This is an official team of professionals, under no circumstances should anyone approach or attempt to disentangle a monk seal without the proper training and guidance from the NOAA team.  These photos fall under NOAA/NMFS permit 932-1905.

David Schofield, M.Sc. Marine Mammal Response Network Coordinator

NOAA Fisheries, Protected Resources Division

1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1110

Honolulu, HI 96814

Call came in 0800 that Kermit had fishing line wrapped around his transmitter with Pieces of line dangling around different parts of his body. The line was removed by 1200 Brenda Becker, Dera Look, David Schofield, John Henderson, Maire Cahoon, volunteers Robert and Barbara Billand and Pearl Harbor Patrol Officer Jerome Nozawa responded.

Location: Windsock Beach, Barbers Point near the USCG air station

The team was able to verify that the seal was not hooked but had the end of line with a hook and bait still on it attached to transmitter. Fishing line (300 ft plus) was found to the Diamond Head side of Kermit along the beach and was cut from the piece remaining on Kermit by the reef near where he hauled out. So it looks like the seal hit a line and spooled the fisherman's reel and ended up with the last 15 feet of line with the bait still attached after snapping the line as a result of hauling out. While this entanglement did not appear life threatening to the seal there was an entanglement risk and so the team decided to intervene.

Some fat kid snuck up on the seal to cut away the line while Henderson and Look waited to the right with a net and Becker, Cahoon and Billand waited with crowding gates. The plan was that if the seal got disturbed that the team would crowd the seal up the beach to a more sandy area and then the animal would be restrained for gear removal.

Robert Billand with one of the 3 crowding gates, John Henderson prepares the net in the background

Line was cut away using a pair of EMT scissors. Procedure took about 4 minutes

(R) Checking the tag for more line. Seal stayed sleeping until Schofield tried to exit.

And there was great rejoicing and jubilation.

Another success story of government agency and volunteers working together.... Barb and Rob as well as the officers on base and the two gentlemen who retrieved the line with hook and bait later in the afternoon. We all love a happy ending. !