Bill Text: HI SR82 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Urging The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration To Prohibit Individuals From Approaching Within Fifty Feet Of A Hawaiian Monk Seal Except When Providing Aid To The Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-04-05 - Report and Resolution Adopted. [SR82 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SR82-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	82
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION TO PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS FROM APPROACHING WITHIN FIFTY FEET OF A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL EXCEPT WHEN PROVIDING AID TO THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL.

 

 

     WHEREAS, in order to protect the population of Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi), it is necessary to limit human interaction with them; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian monk seal is one of the world's most critically endangered species of marine mammal; and

 

     WHEREAS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has reported that a number of habituated seals have become a serious safety risk to humans, or suffered injuries as a result of human infringement and interaction; and

 

     WHEREAS, other harmful human interactions have reportedly occurred when Hawaiian monk seals were fed by people; and

 

     WHEREAS, when the seal becomes focused on the source of food, the seal may begin to beg for the food more aggressively; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian monk seals have sustained injury from boat propellers or ingestion of fishing hooks as they attempt to access human food sources near boats and docks; and

 

     WHEREAS, in most cases, once a Hawaiian monk seal has been socialized to interact with humans, there are few options to extinguish this behavior; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian monk seals are protected by the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which make it illegal under federal law to harass Hawaiian monk seals, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration encourages people to stay a safe distance away from Hawaiian monk seals; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is urged to prohibit individuals from approaching within fifty feet of a Hawaiian monk seal, except for a licensed professional that is qualified to provide aid to the Hawaiian monk seal, such as first responders and veterinarians; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere for the Department of Commerce in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title: 

Hawaiian Monk Seal; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration