Feb. 1, 2010

Senate Joint Committee, Energy & Environment, Water, Land, Agriculture & Hawaiian Affairs
Regarding:  SB 2441Title:  RELATING TO ENDANGERED SPECIES
Report Title:  Endangered Species; Felony; Private Right of Action

Dear Senators:

Maui Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. supports SB 2441 which establishes the intentional or knowing taking of an endangered species as a class C felony and provides a private right of action to enforce conservation of aquatic life, wildlife, and land plants laws.  In light of the recent killings of three seals on Kauai and Molokai, it is increasingly clear that stricter penalties and enforcement of laws protecting the monk seal and other endangered species are critical to their survival.

With the numbers of monk seals increasing in the Main Hawaiian Islands, occurrences of human-seal interactions are on the rise.  As the population continues to grow, we expect human interactions will occur with greater frequency.  It is critical for the survival of the seal that we develop a culture of cohabitation that does not tolerate any kind of inappropriate or violent interactions with this species.  Hawaii’s people must understand the severe nature of the rules of enforcement for a species so fragile and on the verge of extinction. 

Unfortunately, the circulation of false information and fear mongering by a few people has us all concerned that there may be a connection between this spreading of misinformation and the recent seal killings.  Changing the existing penalty from a misdemeanor to a Class C Felony is necessary and time is of the essence.  We also hope for a vigorous education and outreach campaign which would aid in countering misconceptions in our communities and reinforce that the monk seal is not a threat to any ocean user’s livelihood.  

Thank you for your continued efforts to recover and protect the Hawaiian Monk Seal and other endangered species.