The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a $500 fine each in two separate cases involving visitors who touched a resting endangered Hawaiian monk seal.
NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement initiated investigations in the cases and found the visitors to be in violation of the Endangered Species Act, according to spokesman Dominic Andrews.
Two separate videos posted online that show the visitors touching a monk seal sparked anger among many Hawaii residents after they were widely circulated on social including on Hungry Hungry Hawaiian Viral’s Instagram page. The @hhhviral account is no longer available.
In response to the unlawful actions seen in the circulated videos, Gov. David Ige had posted on his social media accounts a stern warning that anyone who touches or disturbs the seals “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
One of the cases involve a Louisiana woman who was on her honeymoon with her husband in Kauai in June after they got married in Maui. A TikTok video showed Lakyn posing next to a resting monk seal on June 7. Once she touches the seal, it snaps at her.
Andrews said they issued the Louisiana woman a summary settlement of $500 for the violation.
In a July 12 phone interview with the Star-Advertiser, Lakyn’s husband, Stephen, apologized profusely and agreed to pay the fine. He said they love Hawaii and respect the culture and did not mean to offend anyone.
The couple had received death threats after the video went viral on social media and requested their surname not to be published.
The federal agency also issued a $500 fine to another visitor, Alex Magala, after he posted a video online that show Magala touching a resting seal on a rocky shoreline. It’s unclear when the encounter took place, however, his Instagram page revealed he visited Oahu in May.
The video shows Magala approach and touch the resting seal. The seal snapped its tail up, causing Magala to step back. Soon after, the visitor again approaches the seal at which time the seal barked at him. The mammal then entered the water and swam away.
Magala has apologized for his actions in a recent Instagram post.
Andrews said they take these incidents very seriously.
Protected by state and federal laws, Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered species with only about 1,100 seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and 300 seals in the main Hawaiian islands.
It is illegal to touch, harass, injure or kill a Hawaiian monk seal. Violators face penalties of imprisonment or fines.
Officials say the public must maintain a distance of at least 50 feet to view monk seals and 150 feet for a pup with its mother.
To report any illegal activity of wildlife harassment, call NOAA’s marine wildlife hotline at 888-256-9840 or the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Enforcement hotline at 643-DLNR.
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July 30, 2021 at 05:35AM
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Visitors who touched monk seal fined $500 - Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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