3~. Minimize environmental and ecological impacts of the 

 fisheries, particularly on the endangered Hawaiian monk seal; 

 and, 



4. Acquire additional information on the resources and 

 fisheries for use in refining management measures as necessary. 



For all areas other than the northwestern Hawaiian Is- 

 lands, the main plan objective was to promote acquisition and 

 review of information, since fisheries are little developed 

 and little documented. There is a small fishery with a defi- 

 nite potential for growth in" the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. 

 An objective of the management plan was to institute conserva- 

 tion measures sufficient to safeguard the stock against serious 

 loss of productivity and to protect other elements of the en- 

 vironment, while placing minimum obstacles to further develop- 

 ment of the fishery. 



Ecological interactions : Lobsters feed mainly on small 

 invertebrates and detritus, and are eaten by octopuses, reef fish, 

 monk seals and tiger sharks. 



While monk seals are known to prey on lobsters, the im- 

 portance of lobsters in their diet is not known and may vary 

 with the area. Lobsters are significant food items for seals 

 around Laysan. However, they are assumed not to be significant 

 elsewhere . 



The Hawaiian monk seal is an endangered species. The 

 same habitat is used by the green sea turtle, proposed as a 

 threatened species . The NMFS may at some future time declare 

 waters around some of the Hawaiian Islands to be critical hab- 

 itat for the monk seal. 



Anticipated environmental impacts included in the plan 

 were the expected long term maintenance of the reproductive 

 capacity of the stock, a continuing but unknown degree of com- 

 petition with lobster predators such as Hawaiian monk seals, 

 and some minimal risk of entrapping the seals in lobster traps. 

 Prohibition of trapping in shallow water and establishment of 

 a refuge around Laysan Island were expected to provide addi- 

 tional protection for lobster populations and to mitigate in- 

 teractions with monk seals . 



Status : Spiny lobster stocks were considered to be in a 

 healthy condition. None have been severely overfished or ad- 

 versely affected by other human activities. 



F-21 



