| |
Marine Mammal Response |
|
| |
The Pacific Island Region Marine Mammal Response Network consists of cetacean and monk seal response in the main Hawaiian Islands, Northwest Hawaiian Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. |
|
| |
| Pacific Island Region Marine Mammal Response Network Goals |
|
- Monk seal haulouts, seal birthing events (pup rearing monitoring, emergency stranding response).
- Cetacean strandings.
- Cetacean entanglements, including assistance with and logisitical support of large entangled whales.
- Whales struck by vessels.
- Oil spills and Unusual Mortality Events (UME's) of marine mammals.
|
| > |
Providing outreach and education about the Hawaiian monk seal to various audiences and user groups |
|
|
| > |
Further network development |
|
|
| > |
Capacity building for response of marine mammals in the MHI and in the NWHI, Guam, American Samoa, and CNMI |
|
|
| > |
Working with communities, stakeholders and partner agencies |
|
|
| |
Photo: Stranded Killer Whale. Credit: Hawaiian Islands Stranding Response Group
|
| |
|
|
| |
Monk Seal Response Programs |
|
| |
Monk seal response programs exist on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island with some reporting from Molokai and Lanai. On Oahu there is a team of approximately 50 volunteers who routinely assist NOAA Fisheries Pacific Island Regional Office (PIRO) and the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) in monk seal response issues. |
|
| |
| |
Volunteers assist with the following: |
|
| |
- Responding to seals that haul out to rest, providing "seal protection zone" to protect them from disturbance.
- Offering public passersby information about the Hawaiian monk seal and its endangered status.
- Monitoring monk seal pupping events.
- Reporting seals in distress (due to fish hook injury, entanglement or otherwise) and standing by until arrival of certified NOAA assistance.
|
|
Photo: Volunteers monitor monk seal pup. Jim Brown
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Cetacean (Dolphin and Whale) Stranding/Entanglement Response |
|
| |
In 1992, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was ammended to include a focus on responding to marine mammal stranding events with NOAA Fisheries designated as the lead agency to coordinate related activities.
| What is a "stranded marine mammal"? |
| |
|
|
| A) |
A marine mammal that is dead and is... |
|
- on a beach or shore of the United States; or
- in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States (including any navicable waters).
|
|
| B) |
A marine mammal that is alive and is... |
|
- on a beach or shore of the United States and unable to return to the water;
- on a beach or shore of the United States and, although able to return to the water, is in apparent need of medical attention; or
- in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States (including navicable waters), but is unable to return to its natural habitat under its own power or without assistance.
|
|
If you encounter a stranded or entangled marine mammal, please call: |
|
Marine Mammal Stranding and Entanglement Hotline
1- 888-256-9840 |
|
|
| |
Why do marine mammals strand? |
|
| |
Strandings are important indicators of cetacean population health and as apex species can be indicators of ocean health. Each stranding carries with it strong conservation messages as some are related to anthropogenic (human induced) causes. Cetaceans can become entangled in nets, derelict gear, and other marine debris such as plastics. Cetaceans are also known to swallow plastics and be hit by motorized vessels. These are all impacts that people can prevent by changing their behaviors in and near the water. Cetaceans also often strand due to natural causes such as old age, disease, and predation.
|
|
| |
Marine Mammal Stranding Network |
|
| |
In Hawaii, the Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) oversees the local cetacean stranding network which is part of a National Stranding Network that includes all US states bordering the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. |
|
| |
| |
Responsibilities of the stranding network: |
|
| |
- Responses/investigations of mortality events
- Biomonitoring
- Tissue/serum banking
- Analytical quality assurance
|
|
|
|
| |
Authorized stranding response entities: |
|
| |
In Hawaii, two primary entities, Hawaii Pacific University and Sea Life Park By Dolphin Discovery (SLPBDD), have NOAA Fisheries authorization to respond to and "take" marine mammals for rescue; rehabilitation; release of live cetaceans; and necropsy and sampling of those that wash ashore dead or those that strand alive but die or are humanely euthanized. Hawaii Pacific University is designated to respond to and sample dead stranded cetaceans and SLPDD is designated to respond to and care for live cetaceans with the goal of release back to the wild.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Marine Mammal Response Network Contacts |
|
| |
Oahu
David Schofield David.Schofield@noaa.gov
Marine Mammal Response Coordinator
(808) 944-2269 |
|
| |
Maui
Hanna Bernard
Nicole Davis
(808) 292-2372 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Kauai
Mimi Olry Mimi.Olry@hawaii.gov
Hawaiian Monk Seal Coordinator |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Big Island
Justin Viezbicke Justin.P.Viezbicke@hawaii.gov
Marine Mammal Responder |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Guam
Thomas Flores, Jr. thomasfloresjr@yahoo.com |
|
| |
|
| |
American Samoa
Ruth Utzurrum utzurrum_ruth@yahoo.com |
|
| |
|
| |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
John Furey jfurey@saipan.com |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
More Information |
|
| |
- NOAA Fisheries - Office of Protected Resources - Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
- Marine Mammal Stranding Fact Sheet (Apr 2006, pdf 118kB)
- Marine Mammal Stranding Report - Level A form (Nov 2006, pdf 145 kB)
- PIR Hot Topics Vol. 1 (Jan-Mar, 2006, pdf 72kB)
- PIR Hot Topics Vol. 2 (Apr-June, 2006, pdf 204kB)
- PIR Hot Topics Vol. 3 (July-Sept, 2006, pdf 440kB)
- PIR Hot Topics Vol. 4 (Oct-Dec, 2006, pdf 207kB)
- PIR Marine Mammal Response Activity Update (formerly "PIR Hot Topics") Vol. 5 (Jan-Mar/Apr-June 2007, pdf 690kB)
- PIR Marine Mammal Response Activity Update Vol. 6 (July-Sept, 2007, pdf 614kB)
- PIR Marine Mammal Response Activity Update Vol. 7 (Oct - Dec, 2007, pdf 884kB)
|
|
