could entangle and thereby injure or kill seals; conduct 

 year-round censuses of seals on French Frigate Shoals; and 

 provide logistical support for various monk seal research and 

 management activities. Refuge personnel also participate on 

 the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Team and assist National 

 Marine Fisheries Service staff in preparing biological opinions 

 required by section 7 of the Endangered Species Act for Federal 

 activities potentially affecting monk seals. 



Although long-term plans for the field station remain 

 uncertain, certain long-range planning needs are being 

 addressed. For example, the Service recently began a 

 cooperative study with the Corps of Engineers to develop a 

 plan to restore the decaying seawall that stabilizes the north 

 shore of Tern Island and protects the Island's landing strip. 

 The seawall is in bad repair and poses a hazard to monk seals, 

 as well as endangered and threatened sea turtles, which can 

 become trapped behind eroded bulkheads. For Fiscal Year 

 1989, Congress again provided funds to the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service for the Tern Island field station, assuring that it 

 will remain in operation at least through September 1989. 



Reconvening the Recovery Team and Updating the Recovery Plan 



As noted above, the Commission recommended in 1986 that 

 the National Marine Fisheries Service reconstitute and reconvene 

 the Hawaiian Seal Recovery Team to update the Recovery Plan. 

 Letters inviting members to participate on the Team were sent 

 out in 1987; however, the Service was unable to provide funds 

 for the Team to meet that year. The Team did not meet in 

 1988, and the Commission was unaware of any steps taken during 

 1988 to update the Recovery Plan adopted in March of 1983. 



At the end of 1988, despite encouraging signs that recovery 

 of the species may have begun, the Commission remained concerned 

 about the lack of progress toward updating the Hawaiian Monk 

 Seal Recovery Plan. Among other things, it was not clear 

 whether the results of recent work and shifting priorities 

 had been fully evaluated with respect to future program needs. 

 In addition, funding for critical research and management 

 activities had remained constant for several years despite 

 increasing costs. Thus, it was not clear that all essential 

 recovery work was being identified and adequately supported 

 to ensure continued population growth. Therefore, at the end 

 of 1988, the Commission planned during its Annual Meeting, 

 scheduled for February 1989, to review the status of the 

 Hawaiian monk seal recovery program. Based on that review 

 and other information, the Commission will continue to work 

 with the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service, and other involved agencies and organizations 

 to ensure that all necessary and possible actions are undertaken 

 to promote recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal population. 



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