HONOLULU — People could receive a reward of up to $20,000 for providing information about a violation that leads to the issuance of a civil penalty or criminal conviction regarding the deaths of two Hawaiian monk seals on Kaua‘i in September and November.
HONOLULU — People could receive a reward of up to $20,000 for providing information about a violation that leads to the issuance of a civil penalty or criminal conviction regarding the deaths of two Hawaiian monk seals on Kaua‘i in September and November.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is seeking information about the deaths of two Hawaiian monk seals along the shoreline of the Anahola area on the northeast shore of Kaua‘i around Sept. 10 and Nov. 18.
“The intentional killing of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal is a violation of federal law,” said Assistant Director Martina Sagapolu of OLE’s Pacific Islands Division. “It is our hope that this reward will encourage someone to provide us with the information needed to arrest and convict those who would commit such a heinous act.”
OLE is investigating the causes of the two recent deaths on Kaua‘i, and has sent enforcement personnel to Kaua‘i to investigate.
OLE encourages anyone who may have information about the seal deaths to call the OLE hotline: 1-800-853-1964. A reward of up to $20,000 may be paid if information provided about a violation regarding a monk seal leads to the issuance of a civil penalty or criminal conviction.
NOAA Fisheries encourages the public to report all monk-seal sightings to its statewide hotline: 888-256-9840.
