Hawaiian Monk Seal photo by Monica Bond

Don’t miss your chance to help one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet get a lot more protected habitat. Upcoming public hearings in Hawaii will weigh the proposal to designate more than 11,000 square miles of coastal and marine critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals. Show up to support the proposed rule, which will protect beaches and coastal waters on all the main Hawaiian Islands and expand protected habitat in the Northwestern Islands.

The meetings will take place in various parts of Hawaii on Aug. 8-11 and Aug. 15-16. See the list of locations below. If you’ll be near a meeting, please attend and speak up about how important it is that this monk seal gets more critical habitat

Hawaiian monk seals are poised to get more protected space to live in through an ambitious proposal that will designate beaches and waters as critical habitat for them. Monk seals need these protections to promote their recovery: With only about 1,000 of the animals left, they’re teetering on the brink of extinction. But more habitat protections on the main Hawaiian Islands could provide a safety net, since more and more healthy pups are growing up there.

These protections will not only ensure that monk seals have habitat that allows them to thrive, but will also protect Hawaii’s beaches for surfers, fishers and all those who love the ocean. Critical habitat protections will not limit public access but will ensure that federally permitted activities such as development and pollution permits do not spoil monk seal habitat.

Please attend one of the hearings in your area; see the locations and dates below. Here are some talking points:

  Protecting monk seal habitat is important. Monk seals are one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, and endangered species with critical habitat are twice as likely to be recovering as those without it.

Monk seals need beaches and marine waters to support their survival. Only one in five juvenile monk seals survives in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, so new habitat protections are vital in the main Hawaiian Islands, where monk seals are giving birth to healthy pups.

Critical habitat will not close areas, but it benefits our community by preventing harm to the shoreline while helping the monk seals. Everyone who enjoys the ocean will benefit from this proposal. If you cannot attend a hearing, please send comments by taking action here.

Meeting locations and dates:

Moloka’i
Monday, August 8 (5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.)
Mitchell Pauole Center
90 Ainoa Street
Kaunakakai, Molokai, HI 96748

Maui
Tuesday, August 9 (5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.)
Kihei Community Center
303 E. Lipoa St.
Kihei, Maui, HI 96753