About Hawaiian Monk Seals
Conservation & Recovery Efforts
The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world and the last surviving species in its genus. Endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago, these seals occur nowhere else on Earth, ranging from Hawai‘i Island in the southeast to Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. With a total population of around 1,600 individuals, roughly one-third of historic numbers, each seal plays a crucial role in population recovery, making focused conservation efforts essential.
The species has faced decades of decline after historical hunting, entanglements in marine debris, and low juvenile survival, but recent conservation efforts have slowly increased the population. Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and State of Hawai'i law.
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MOCMI partners with NOAA Fisheries and other agencies to lead Hawaiian monk seal recovery on Maui. Our work focuses on both population-level management and rescue assistance for individual seals. Key efforts include:
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Responding to sightings, haul-outs, pupping, and molting events
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Conducting and reporting health assessments
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Assisting with the rescues of seals in need
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Educating the public on safe viewing practices, keeping at least 50 feet from seals, or 150 feet from mother-pup pairs
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Recruit and train volunteers to assist with monitoring, outreach, and seal protection
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Through these combined efforts, we protect individual seals while supporting overall population growth and long-term species recovery.
Habitat, Appearance & Behavior
Hawaiian monk seals spend about two-thirds of their lives at sea. They forage primarily close to the sea floor where they catch prey hiding in sand or under rocks. Monk seals typically dive and forage down to 200 ft but have been observed at depths up to 1800 feet.
Seals haul out on sandy beaches, coral rubble, and volcanic rock to rest, molt, give birth, and nurse pups. They prefer protected beaches for pupping, where mothers care for their pups for several weeks while fasting. Pups are born black and gradually develop a silvery-gray coat.
Hawaiian monk seals are mostly solitary, though they are often seen together during the breeding season. Some individual seals return to their haul-out sites repeatedly, while others swim between different islands.
Threats to Hawaiian Monk Seals
Main Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian monk seals face numerous natural and human-caused threats across the main Hawaiian Islands, such as:
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Disease: Toxoplasmosis, transmitted via contaminated water, is a leading cause of death in the Main Hawaiian Islands population.
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Human-seal interactions: Disturbance, fishery interactions, and unsafe viewing can stress seals.
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Intentional harm: Rare but serious cases of injury or death due to human activity.
Papahānaumokuākea
In Papahānaumokuākea, threats include:
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Food limitation: Juvenile survival can be limited by competition with other predators, particularly in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
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Shark predation: A significant cause of pup mortality in shallow nearshore waters.
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Entanglement: Marine debris and derelict fishing gear are chronic hazards, especially for juveniles and sub-adults.
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Male aggression: Some adult males target pups and adult females, though this is largely manageable.
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Habitat loss: Rising sea levels and erosion threaten critical haul-out and pupping beaches.
MOCMI works to mitigate these threats through rescue, public education, and monitoring programs, protecting both individual animals and the species as a whole.