Encountering Hawaiian Monk Seals in the water: your behavior as a swimmer, snorkeler, or diver makes a difference

As Hawaiian monk seals are increasingly seen at popular diving and snorkeling sites around Hawai‘i, it’s important that people understand the potential impacts of their actions when around these critically endangered animals.

The information below is being shared by NOAA Fisheries, out of concern for the well being of seals that are encountered at popular marine recreation sites. You can help by learning the guidelines, and sharing them with others. Our actions matter!

photo courtesy of Rick Long

Young seals may seek out human attention and attempt to interact with humans – including swimmers, divers, snorkelers and fishermen. Encouraging this behavior and these interactions may cause these young seals to lose their wild tendencies and become habituated to interacting with humans and fishing gear. Please follow the guidelines below when you are around seals.

Do not play with, pet, swim with, feed, or otherwise engage the seal. Seals encouraged to be “friendly,” ultimately will lose their ability to survive in the wild.

Guidelines:
• Do not feed the seal or discard bait or scraps into the water
• If a seal approaches you, ignore it and quickly move away from the seal or exit the water
• When spearfishing and/or wading remove fish as quickly as possible from the water
• Observe the seal from a respectful distance of at least 150 ft on land and in the water

It is important that everyone follow the guidelines because it only takes one person to interact with the seal (including making eye contact) to continue to perpetuate the seal’s undesirable behavior.

Furthermore, it’s very important to report to NOAA Fisheries, as soon as possible: every single time you encounter a monk seal.
On Maui: Nicole Davis, NOAA Fisheries Maui Marine Mammal Response Coordinator, (808) 292-2372
On Oahu: NOAA Fisheries Sightings Line, (808) 220-7802
On Kauai: NOAA Fisheries Kauai Monk Seal Response, (808) 651-7668
On Hawaii Island: NOAA Fisheries Hawaii Monk Seal Response, (808) 987-0765

Also, when reporting your seal sighting, note the interactions you or other divers may have with the seal.
• The kind of info to record, in addition to basic seal sighting information, includes things like:
• Did the seal approach you?
• Did you leave the seal or did it leave you?
• How long did it stick around?
• Did it touch or interact with any of your gear?
• Did it follow you or others?
• Did you try to deter it in any way?
...and so on.

Please keep seals alive and wild by following the guidelines above, spreading the word, and helping others to understand the importance of not interacting with seals in the water, and on land!

For more information, please visit NOAA Fisheries Service's Protected Resources Division Website, where you will find an engaging video, "Good Neighbors: How to Share Hawaii's Beaches with Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals."

photo courtesy of Rick Long