Keeping Wildlife Wild - Waikiki Swim Club€¦ · and Big Island. • Wai`anae coast – Wai`anae...

Keeping Wildlife WildPACIFIC ISLANDS REGIONAL OFFICE

Adam KurtzProtected Resource DivisionFebruary 23, 2019Honolulu, HI

Waikiki Swim Club

How to safely enjoy protected marine wildlife

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries |

National Weather Service

National Environmental Satellite, Data and

Information Service

National Ocean Service

National Marine Fisheries Service

Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric

Research

Office of Marine & Aviation Operations

Protected Resources DivisionWork to conserve, protect, and recover species under

the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)


Wildlife Mgmt. and Conservation Branch• Wildlife rescue responses.• Reduce adverse human-wildlife interactions.• Outreach that promote species conservation and recovery.



https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2018/12/07/seals-keep-getting-eels-stuck-up-their-noses/amp/


https://www.foxnews.com/science/knife-wielding-monk-seal-pup-spotted-on-hawaii-beach


Wildlife Management?


My Job:

Prevent people from being JERKS to animals.

Manage harmful human interactions with protected wildlife by promoting compliance of

the federal wildlife conservation laws, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered

Species Act through outreach and education efforts throughout the region.


https://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/08/28/breaking-news/3-swimmers-fined-for-pursuing-spinner-dolphins-at-makua/ https://www.khon2.com/news/local-news/visitors-fined-for-holding-endangered-turtle-on-hawaii-beach/1012620424

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/hawaii-visitor-fined-harassing-protected-marine-animals-kauai

https://www.fpir.noaa.gov/stories/07282017_tour_operator_fined_for_harassing_spinner_dolphins.html

Wildlife Viewing: Helpful or Harmful?

Wildlife viewing by residents and tourists is essential for education and conservation awareness of the species

X Irresponsible actions by wildlife viewers can disturb and harm marine wildlife


=Teaching

people how to respect wildlife.

GOALS: Conservation & Recovery

Endangered = in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.Threatened = likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future.

Endangered Species Act


Endangered Species ActIllegal to take

Harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or attempt to do those things to the species.


Marine Mammal Protection ActIllegal to take = harass, hunt, capture, collect, kill any marine mammal or attempt to do so.

Harassment includes human acts of pursuit, torment, or annoyance, which have the potential to:

• Level A - injure a marine mammal,• Level B – disturb a marine mammal, by causing a disruption of

behavioral patterns.


ESA MMPAHawaiian monk seal

Insular false killer whale

Hawksbill sea turtle

Green sea turtle

Humpback whale

Hawaiian spinner dolphin

Bottlenose dolphin

Pilot whale


Why Should We Protect Them?• Important part of the marine ecosystem:

• Apex predators; keystone species.• Charismatic megafauna:

• Long-living; intelligent; sentinel species.• Many threats are man-made:

• Disturbance, fishery interactions, entanglements, ingesting marine debris, contaminants and pollution, habitat degradation, boat strikes, disease, illegal hunting, man-made noise, and climate change.


Impacts of Human InteractionsRepeated interactions with humans can change an animal’s natural behavior and hurt its chances of survival:


• Uses up precious energy.

• Causes physiological stress.

• Lowers reproductive success.

• Affects socializing and communication. • Changes behaviors needed to survive

(feeding, breeding, sheltering, etc.).• Conditions or habituates to humans.

Commonly Viewed Protected Marine Species

Hawaiian greenhonu

Hawaiian hawksbillhonu`ea

Sea Turtles in Hawai`i

ESA List Status: Endangered• Forages at Hāmākua coast on

Hawai`i Island and West Maui.• Nesting area at Ka`ū coast on

BI; S. Maui; E. Moloka`i.• Eat sponges, invertebrates, and

algae.

ESA List Status: Threatened• Forages throughout Hawaiian

Islands.• Nesting area mostly at French

Frigate Shoals.• Forage mostly on sea grasses

and algae.

Scientific name:Chelonia mydas

Scientific name:Eretmochelys imbricata

Green Sea Turtle Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Sea Turtles – Quick Facts

Narrow head and pointed beak

21 32

4

1

Two scales between eyes

Rounded head Four scales between eyes

Scutes overlapping (roof shingles)

Scutes adjoining (tiles)

Hatchlings dark gray w/ white trim

Hatchlings all brown

Green Sea Turtle Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Sea Turtles – Identification

`ilioholoikauaua“Dog that runs in the rough seas”

Hawaiian Monk Seals

• Legal protection:• ESA (Endangered).• MMPA (Depleted).

• ~1,400 total individuals.• ~1,100 in NWHI.• ~300 in MHI.

• “Generalist” feeders.• Squid, octopus, crustaceans, eel,

various fish.

Scientific name:Neomonachus schauinslandi

Hawaiian Monk Seals – Quick Facts

Dolphins and Whales in Hawai`i


• ~26 species of dolphins and whales in Hawaiian waters.

• Eight large whale species.

• 18 small whale & dolphin species.

Humpback Whales


koholā

• Legal protection:• MMPA (Depleted).

• Migrate from Alaska (feeding grounds) to Hawai`i (breeding grounds) in the winter.• ~10k – 12k individuals in Hawai`i.

• Feed mostly on krill.• Young calves frequently seen in

Hawaiian waters.

Scientific name:Megapteranovaeangliae

Adapted by the HIHWNMS using migration data from the SPLASH project

Humpback Whale – Species Profile


Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins


nai`a

Spinner Dolphin – Species Profile

• Legal protection:• MMPA.

• Six island-associated stocks:• Kauai/Niìhau.• Oàhu/4-Islands Region.• Hawaiì Island.• Kure/Midway, Pearl and Hermes

Reef, Pelagic (offshore).• Eat fish, squid, and shrimp:

• One to four prey items per minute.

Scientific name:Stenella longirostris longirostris


At night: “working the nightshift” to hunt offshore in large groups.

During day: use shallow bays to rest, nurture young,

socialize and avoid predators.

A Day in the Life of a Spinner Dolphin


• Easy to access for wildlife tour operators.• Intense viewing pressure during critical

daytime resting period.

Number of dolphin-directed tours across the MHI

• Advertising and social media often encourage close encounters.

• Hawaii Island study (Tyne et al.):• Exposed to human activities (within

100 m) 83% of the time and only about 10 min in between exposures.

• Highest rates of human exposure than anywhere else in the world.

Intense Viewing Pressure


Swimmers’ Actions that Cause Disturbance:

• Closely approaching.

• Pursuit (following or chasing).

• Diving down towards animals.

• Eliciting a response (making noises, splashing, leaf game).


Dolphin Tour Industry in Hawaiì


• Most common on Oàhuand Big Island.• Waiànae coast – Waiànae

Boat Harbor and Ko Olina.• Kona coast – Generally

from Kauhakō Bay up to Kawaihae.

• Mostly opportunistic on Kauaì, Maui, and Lānaì.

• Offer boat watching and/or “swim with dolphins” tours.

www.oceanjoycruises.com

www.hawaiinautical.com

Boat Tour Management


Outreach and Education• Ocean Users Workshops

hosted by the Humpback Whale Sanctuary.

• Dolphin SMART.

Enforcement• NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.

• Hawaii DOCARE.

• U.S. Coast Guard.

How You Can Help!Responsible wildlife viewing:• View wildlife with RESPECT!• Don’t do anything to disturb their normal

behavior, including approaching or following.• If animals approach you, do not interact,

follow, or otherwise elicit a response from them. Allow them to pass undisturbed!

Be a responsible wildlife steward:• Teach others how to view responsibly.Report harassment or emergencies:• Send photos/video to [email protected].• Call Wildlife Emergency Response Hotline.

In Closing…

Real animal lovers RESPECT animals.

Give them space.Minimize disturbance.Keep them wild.

Image courtesy of CalPoly SLO via sanctuaries.noaa.gov

Contact Adam Kurtz(808) 725-5165

[email protected]


Send reports of harassment to [email protected]


Questions?

Laws vs. Regulations vs. GuidelinesLaws:

• Written and passed by Congress, signed by the president.• e.g., Endangered Species Act (ESA); Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Regulations:• Extension of laws implemented by government agencies based

on the best info available.• e.g., Humpback whale approach regulations (authorized under MMPA); Proposed

spinner dolphin approach regulations (authorized under MMPA).

Guidelines:• Voluntary standards developed by experts of the field that

promote best practices and encourage compliance.• e.g., NOAA Fisheries Wildlife Viewing Guidelines.


Sea Turtle Viewing Guidelines• View sea turtles on land and in the water

from a distance of 10 feet (3 meters).• Never prevent a turtle from surfacing, they

require air to breathe.• Don’t attempt to push a turtle back in the

water or pour water on it, it is normal for turtles to rest on the beach.

• Do not feed sea turtles.• Drive boats slowly near harbors and in

shallow reef habitats to avoid collisions.• Use “turtle friendly” fishing techniques:

• Barbless circle hooks.• Live fish bait.• IT’S OK TO HELP!

Monk Seal Viewing Guidelines• Stay behind and signs or barriers.• Use the “Rule of Thumb”:

• Hold your thumb out in front of you in your line of sight of the seal, if your thumb completely covers the seal you are far enough away to not disturb it.

• Don’t attempt to push a seal back in the water or pour water on it, let sleeping seals lie.

• Don’t feed or interact with seals, it can disrupt their natural behavior.

• Keep all dogs on a leash in presence of seals.

• Use “seal friendly” fishing techniques:• Barbless circle hooks.• Take a break if seals are in the area.• Spear fishermen – protect your catch.

• Illegal under the MMPA for any vessel, person, or object to approach a humpback whale within 100 yards.• Includes approach by interception or

“leapfrogging”.• All aircraft must remain 1,000 feet from

humpback whales.• Don’t encircle or trap humpback

whales between boats or shore.• If approached by whale, put engine

in neutral and allow animal to pass.• Keep a sharp lookout, watch your

speed, and warn other vessels.

Humpback Whale Viewing Guidelines


Dolphin and Whale Viewing Guidelines• Remain at least 50 yards away

from dolphins and whales.• Do not swim with wild dolphins,

any disturbance can hurt their chances to survive in the wild.

• Don’t encircle or trap dolphins or whales between boats or shore.

• If approached by a dolphin or whale, maintain course (boat) and don’t attempt to approach, follow or otherwise interact.

• Move away cautiously if animals show signs of disturbance.


Signs of Disturbance

• Sudden awakening from a sleep-like state on the seafloor.

• Movement away from human activity.• Increased swimming speed.• Dive toward deeper water.

Sea Turtles• Rapid changes in swimming direction,

speed, or aerial behaviors.• Erratic swimming patterns.• Escape tactics.• Female attempting to shield calf.• Sudden stop in important behavior.

Dolphins and Whales

• Rapid movement away from disturbance toward the water.

• Sudden awakening from sleep on the beach.

• Female attempting to shield a pup.• Vocalization or “growling”.

Hawaiian Monk Seals

Cautiously move away if you observe any signs of disturbance!

In other locations, intense viewing pressures on dolphins have resulted in habitat avoidance, habitat

abandonment, and even reduced fitness.

In Hawai`i, we are seeing impacts…


• Avoidance behaviors of both boats and people (Timmel 2008).

• Deterrence from entering preferred habitat, shorter resting periods, constant state of alertness (Danil et al. 2005).

• Changes to occupancy rates in resting areas (Ostman-Lind 2009).

• Changes in daily behavior patterns, e.g., changes to aerial behavior, changes in direction of travel (Forest 2001, Courbis 2008).

• Lack of rest possibly leading to impaired cognitive and decision-making abilities (Tyne et al. 2018).

Spinner Dolphin Proposed RuleProposed rule to enhance protections for Hawaiian spinner dolphins published on August 24, 2016. The rule is being finalized but is currently NOT IN EFFECT.Prohibits:• Approaching within 50 yards (includes

interception or “leapfrogging”).• Swimming or attempting to swim within

50 yards.• Several exceptions to the rule.


Boaters’ Actions that Cause Disturbance:Driving, Circling, and Leapfrogging

Driving: The act of the boat captain piloting a boat that “drives” the dolphins forward, as in corralling or herding dolphins to move in a certain direction.

Circling: The act of piloting a boat in tight circles around a dolphin or group of dolphins in order to elicit a response such as leaping and spinning.

Leapfrogging: The act of placing a boat in the predictable path of the dolphins so as to intercept them as they pass. Typically the boat captain will then pilot the boat ahead of the pod to intercept them again, possibly repeating this multiple times.



Spinner Dolphin – “Normal” BehaviorsResting behavior:• Characterized by tight group. • Slow speed moving back forth.• Typically take multiple breaths.• Synchronous group diving and spend long

periods of time submerged (1.5–3 min).Social Behavior:• Characterized by regular, consistent,

aerial behaviors within the group.• Little time is spent below the surface

(dives are brief).Travel behavior:• Directed swimming that is roughly straight.

Behaviors demonstrated when the individual animal appears agitated which may include:

• Rapid changes in direction or swimming speed, • Avoidance from a negative stimuli (displacement),• Escape tactics such as prolonged diving, underwater exhalation,

underwater, course changes, or rapid swimming at the surface (running),

• Female attempting to shield a calf with her body or by her movements,

• Closing ranks or “tightening ranks,” and• Spinning, breaching, tail slapping, or other surface behaviors.


Spinner Dolphin – Disturbance Behavior

Spinner Dolphin Viewing FACTS


• Spinner dolphins choose their daytime resting areas for multiple reasons.• Protected area and easy to spot predators.• Close to their feeding grounds.

• Like people, spinner dolphins don’t always make healthy choices.• Using up precious energy and getting insufficient rest makes it hard to survive.• Closely approaching dolphins forces them to choose how to respond.

Spinners are vulnerable and at risk if they leave their preferred habitat!

Just because they choose to interact does not mean it is good for them!• Any disturbance can be harmful, regardless of who or how.

• Hundreds of people interact with spinner dolphins all day and every day.

The best way to view and respect the dolphins is to stay back 50 yards!

Keeping Wildlife Wild - Waikiki Swim Club€¦ · and Big Island. • Wai`anae coast – Wai`anae...

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