Hawaii conservation officers are investigating a Seattle man accused of throwing rocks toward an endangered Hawaiian monk seal off Maui. (Scroll down for video of the incident)
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said officers responded Monday, May 4, to reports of monk seal harassment near Lahaina after social media posts surfaced appearing to show a man throwing an object at a seal in the water.
A Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officer later contacted a 37-year-old man from Seattle who matched a witness description provided to authorities, the department said.
The man was detained, identified, and advised of his legal rights before requesting an attorney and declining to make a statement.
The case is now being referred to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement for further review because Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Authorities said the man has not been criminally charged, and his identity has not been released.
Hawaiian monk seals are considered endangered and are protected under both federal and Hawaii state law. It is illegal to harass, harm, feed, or disturb them.
The department said the investigation began after Instagram posts circulated online appearing to show the alleged incident along the Lahaina shoreline.
Officials also used the investigation update to warn the public about several recent incidents involving people crossing barriers around resting monk seals on Oʻahu.
The state said people have repeatedly breached a temporary fenced-off area at Kaimana Beach surrounding Kaiwi, a 15-year-old monk seal, and her newborn pup, which was born May 3.
“This is a very crucial time in the life of this pup, so for these people to be breaching the area and getting close is not a good idea at all,” DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said in a statement.
Redulla warned that monk seals can become aggressive if they perceive humans or pets as threats.
“If the mother seal perceives any human or pet to be a threat, she may attack,” Redulla said, referencing a 2022 incident in which a swimmer suffered injuries during an encounter with a mother seal at Kaimana Beach.
The department also noted that federal fines tied to past monk seal harassment cases have reached thousands of dollars.
“To keep people and pets safe, and to protect our endangered marine life, we ask the public’s help by showing respect for these animals and following all guidelines for safe viewing,” Redulla said.
You can watch video of the shocking incident here.
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