Please check out our new Good Neighbors Webpage.
Learn how to be good neighbors with Hawaiian monk seals by watching our new video "Good Neighbors: How to Share Hawaii's Beaches with Endangered Monk Seals".

NOAA Invites Comment on Coral Status Review Report and Draft Management Report.
For more information, please visit the Office of Protected Resources, Coral Status Review webpage.

April is Tsunami Awareness month in Hawaii
NOAA's National Weather Service offices in Hawaii and the Hawaii State Civil Defense have partnered to raise public awareness to the dangers of tsunamis. Click here for more info about events going on in your community to raise tsunami awareness.

Ocean Mysteries - Hawaii Episode Premiere

Hawaii episodes of Ocean Mysteries, premiering April 28th and May 5th at 3PM HST. On ABC, Channel 6 on Oceanic Cable/Digital, Channel 86 for HD)

The new FishWatch website was unveiled at the International Boston

New FishWatch website yesterday at the International Boston Seafood Show. FishWatch provides easy-to-understand, science-based facts to help consumers make smart sustainable seafood choices.

Fresh Facts. Smart Seafood. www.fishwatch.gov

Sustainable Fisheries Announces Annual Catch Limits
Please click here to view the updated information.

NOAA Fisheries Removes Aggressive Monk Seal KE18 from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)

On Sunday, January 29, 2012, monk seal KE18 was removed from the NWHI and is no longer a threat to young monk seals at Midway and Kure Atolls. He is temporarily housed at the Waikiki Aquarium (not on display) while we finalize plans for a preferred non-lethal option. Although not a preferred option, if circumstances change humane euthanasia remains as an available wildlife management tool.

For more information about this seal please click here.

Biological Opinion on the Hawaii-based Shallow-set Longline Swordfish Fishery
On January 30, 2012, NOAA Fisheries issued an Endangered Species Act section 7 biological opinion on the continued operation of the Hawaii-based Shallow-set Longline Swordfish Fishery - under Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. Click here to read the opinion.

Final List of Fisheries for 2012 Published
On November 29, 2011 NOAA Fisheries published the final List of Fisheries for 2012, a requirement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. For more information on the List of Fisheries, please click here.

Proposed Rule to Revise Hawaiian Monk Seal Critical Habitat-PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REOPENED
On June 2, 2011 NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule to revise Hawaiian monk seal critical habitat. The public comment period was open for 90-days, until August 31, 2011. In response to public concerns and comments, NOAA Fisheries has decided to reopen the public comment period for the proposed rule to revise critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal. The public comment period will be reopened from November 7, 2011 for 60-days and will close on January 6, 2012.

Hawaiian Monk Seal KP2 (Ho'ailona) Returns Home from College
NOAA Fisheries Service welcomed back Hawaiian monk seal KP2 (Ho'ailona) at Air Station Barbers Point. KP2 has been at "college" at the University of California — Santa Cruz. While at UC Santa Cruz, KP2 worked with a team of marine mammal scientists and veterinarians from around the United States and participated in non-invasive research. The knowledge gained from KP2 and these studies will assist conservation efforts in the overall recovery of Hawaiian monk seals. Click here to read more.

Wild Dolphin Conservation Program Expands in Hawaii
NOAA and its partners have expanded the Dolphin SMART conservation program to Hawaii. Dolphin SMART is a program that awards annual recognition to tour operators who responsibly view wild dolphins and educate their patrons on dolphin conservation. Click here to read more.

JIMAR is named NOAA's Pacific Islands Region Cooperative Institute
The University of Hawai'i at Manoa was selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to host the Cooperative Institute (CI) in the Pacific Islands Region as part of a five-year award with funding up to $95 million. The Pacific Islands Region CI, one of 18 NOAA CI's across the country, will be known as the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR).

Dr. Richard Merrick Named NOAA Fisheries Chief Science Advisor
Dr. Richard L. Merrick has been selected as the new NOAA Fisheries Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor. He will assume a prominent role in NOAA's efforts to improve the stock assessment process, in integrating new technologies into our science efforts, in evaluating and responding to ecosystem challenges and in ongoing efforts to build and enhance science partnerships.

Please check out PIRO's new Hawaiian monk seal webpages! You can also find our Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Program Update and Accomplishments Report 2009-2010 here (under "What's New?).