recommendation of the Marine Mammal Commission, the Service 

 extended the designated area seaward to the 20-fathom contour so 

 as to include a greater portion of the species 1 essential feeding 

 ground . 



Because of the species' small population size, the direct or 

 indirect loss of even a few seals may have a significant effect 

 on population trends. In this context, issues of particular 

 importance include: disturbance of seals on pupping and haul- 

 out beaches; entanglement in lost and discarded fishing gear and 

 other marine debris; entrapment in a disintegrating seawall and 

 various types of debris at Tern Island in French Frigate Shoals; 

 interactions with commercial fishermen; potential die-off s caused 

 by disease or naturally occurring biotoxins; food availability; 

 shark predation; and the rehabilitation and release of pups 

 recovered at pupping beaches in an emaciated condition. Also, in 

 recent years, abnormal behavior exhibited on some islands by 

 groups of adult male seals mobbing and killing or seriously 

 injuring adult females and young animals also has been a source 

 of concern. The species receives protection from human 

 activities, however, by virtue of its remote habitat and the 

 occurrence of most of its terrestrial habitat in the northwest 

 Hawaiian Islands within the Hawaiian Island National Wildlife 

 Refuge administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. 



Congressional concern for survival of the species has been 

 expressed, in part, through special appropriations for monk seal- 

 related activities. In 1981, Congress provided the Commission 

 $100,000 to expand and strengthen research and management efforts 

 for monk seals. Each year since 1981, Congress has appropriated 

 money to the National Marine Fisheries Service specifically to 

 carry that program forward. In 1985, it provided the Service 

 $350,000 for monk seal work and, every year since then, including 

 Fiscal Year 1989, it has provided $325,000. 



In 1983, the National Marine Fisheries Service, in consul- 

 tation with the Commission and other interested parties, adopted 

 a Recovery Plan for Hawaiian monk seals. The plan quickly became 

 outdated due to progress in developing and implementing recovery 

 actions, the accumulation of new information, and recognition of 

 new research and management issues. Therefore, in December 1986, 

 the Commission recommended that the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery 

 Team, which had not met since 1984, be reconstituted and recon- 

 vened to update the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan. In 1987, 

 the Service invited individuals to participate on the Team. 

 However, it provided no funds for meetings and the Team did not 

 meet in 1987. 



As an interim measure, the Commission convened a Hawaiian 

 monk seal program review during its Annual Meeting on 10-12 

 December 1987. Representatives of the Commission, its Committee 

 of Scientific Advisors, and the National Marine Fisheries Service 



30 



