Special Research Appropriations 
Hawaiian Monk Seal 
The Hawaiian monk seal is in grave danger of extinction 
and, in recent years, the Commission has recommended that 
the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service undertake certain actions to better assess 
the status and encourage recovery of the species (see 
previous Annual Reports for details). By late 1979, neither 
agency had developed an effective research and management 
program, and Congress appropriated $100,000 to the Commission 
for FY 1980 to facilitate the development of such a program. 
Following consultations with appropriate representatives 
of the Hawaii Department of Fish and Game, the National 
Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
and the academic community (see the Commission's 1979 
Annual Report), the Commission determined that the special 
$100,000 appropriation should be used to: (1) synthesize and 
evaluate survey and resighting data from monk seal studies 
carried out on Laysan Island in 1977, 1978, and 1979; (2) 
continue and, if possible, expand the Laysan Island study; 
(3) initiate a pilot study to evaluate the possible effects 
and effectiveness of using radio tags and depth-of-dive 
recorders to determine the movements and habitat-use patterns 
of monk seals; (4) facilitate the development of a contingency 
plan for responding to monk seal die-offs such as occurred 
on Laysan Island in 1978; (5) compile and evaluate available 
information concerning the feasibility, possible utility, 
and effects of a shark control program at Kure Atoll or 
elsewhere in the Leeward Hawaiian Islands; (6) identify and 
evaluate the possible adverse effects of on-going and planned 
fishery development on monk seals and their habitat; and (7) 
complete the analysis of available data concerning the 
biology, ecology, behavior, and population dynamics of monk 
seals on Laysan Island. Pursuant to these determinations, 
the Commission transferred funds to the National Marine 
Fisheries Service and/or contracted for the studies which 
are described below. 
Synthesis and Evaluation of Survey and Resighting Data 
from Monk Seal Studies on Laysan Island, 1977-79 
(B. and P. Johnson) 
In 1977, 1978, and 1979, the investigators surveyed and 
observed monk seals on Laysan Island. Preliminary evaluation 
of the data collected by the investigators suggested that it 
