Scientists to government: Kill sharks, save seals
This entry was posted on 5/25/2007 4:03 PM and is filed under Animal News.
HONOLULU, Hawaii, USA -- US scientists are seeking permission to kill Galapagos sharks in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in order to try to save the Hawaiian monk seal, which is an endangered species, according to a May 24 newspaper report cited by the International Herald Tribune and the Associated Press on May 25.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has suggested killing up to 10 sharks inside the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, where most monk seals live, this summer, according to a report on the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Website. More than 140 Hawaiian monk seal pups have been killed by Galapagos sharks at French Frigate Shoals in the past 10 years, according to NOAA's proposal.
"The consequences of deferring action on this major mortality factor, in terms of the reduced potential for monk seal recovery, are large," wrote George "Bud" Antonelis, Protected Species Division Chief for NOAA's Pacific Islands Region, wrote in the proposal, according to the report, which also appeared on the Mathaba.Net News Website (http://mathaba.net.news). The central argument of the proposal is that monk seals are endangered, but Galapagos sharks are not. In order for the killing of the sharks to go forward, NOAA, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources must approve the scientists' request. The Board of Land and Resources was to have discussed the proposal during its meeting on May 25.
There are alternative efforts to save monk seals, including providing captive care for underweight female pups and researching the diet and foraging habits of seals, according to Mike Tosatto, Deputy Administrator of the NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office, as cited in the news reports. In 2006, the Hawaii Board of Land and Resources approved the killing of up to 10 Galapagos sharks with rifles, but none was killed, according to a Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources administrator. Between 2000 and 2005, scientists killed 12 Galapagos sharks.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has suggested killing up to 10 sharks inside the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, where most monk seals live, this summer, according to a report on the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Website. More than 140 Hawaiian monk seal pups have been killed by Galapagos sharks at French Frigate Shoals in the past 10 years, according to NOAA's proposal.
"The consequences of deferring action on this major mortality factor, in terms of the reduced potential for monk seal recovery, are large," wrote George "Bud" Antonelis, Protected Species Division Chief for NOAA's Pacific Islands Region, wrote in the proposal, according to the report, which also appeared on the Mathaba.Net News Website (http://mathaba.net.news). The central argument of the proposal is that monk seals are endangered, but Galapagos sharks are not. In order for the killing of the sharks to go forward, NOAA, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources must approve the scientists' request. The Board of Land and Resources was to have discussed the proposal during its meeting on May 25.
There are alternative efforts to save monk seals, including providing captive care for underweight female pups and researching the diet and foraging habits of seals, according to Mike Tosatto, Deputy Administrator of the NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office, as cited in the news reports. In 2006, the Hawaii Board of Land and Resources approved the killing of up to 10 Galapagos sharks with rifles, but none was killed, according to a Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources administrator. Between 2000 and 2005, scientists killed 12 Galapagos sharks.