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Conserving Long-Lived Species: The Importance of Monitoring Decades-Old Individuals

Conservation and recovery of long-lived species requires continued monitoring of individuals. Meet some of the animals that have been known to scientists for decades.
May 09, 2025 - Feature Story ,
National
Southern Resident killer whales encountered during NOAA's Pacific Orcinus Distribution Survey in October 2021 Southern Resident killer whales encountered during NOAA's PODs (Pacific Orcinus Distribution Survey) in October 2021 near the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Brad Hanson

Monk Seal and Sea Turtle Research and Recovery: A Year in Review

Fresh survey techniques, historic data retrieval, and rehabilitated new moms were just a few of the successes marked by the 2024 field camp season in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
May 05, 2025 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
Pink and purple sunrise clouds over several field camps tents with many birds in the air. Caption: Field camp at sunrise on Tern Island, Lalo. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #PMNM-2024-001)

NOAA Fisheries Awarded $7 Million to Pacific Islands Projects

Projects will support NOAA Fisheries efforts to achieve healthy ecosystems and thriving marine economies.
January 08, 2025 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
A team of 8 safely carrying seal carrier towards the beach shoreline for release. Field response efforts for endangered marine life, such as the Hawaiian monk seal, are among the activities NOAA Fisheries funded in 2024. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

AI Meets Aquaculture to Study Hawaiian Monk Seal Interactions With Net Pens

NOAA Fisheries and Blue Ocean Mariculture are leveraging technology to study Hawaiian monk seal interest in aquaculture net pens in Hawaiʻi.
November 21, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
Two Hawaiian monk seals swim near an aquaculture net pen full of fish. NOAA Fisheries, in collaboration with Blue Ocean Mariculture, is conducting a multi-year pilot study to evaluate observational methods and tools for studying Hawaiian monk seal behavior. Courtesy of Blue Ocean Mariculture

2024 Research for Pacific Protected Species

Inflation Reduction Act funds helped NOAA Fisheries scientists enhance our 2024 data for ice seals in Alaska, Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles in the Pacific Islands, and cetaceans off the West Coast.
November 13, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
Pacific Islands
West Coast
Marylou Staman conducts green sea turtle surveys at Lalo (French Frigate Shoals). Credit: NOAA Fisheries. Marylou Staman conducts green sea turtle surveys at Lalo in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. More than 90 percent of the Hawaiian green sea turtle population nests at Lalo (French Frigate Shoals). Credit: NOAA Fisheries. Taken under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Permit #TE-72088A-3 and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Co-Manager’s Permit.

A Substantial Reduction in Seal Entanglement

New analysis confirms Hawaiian monk seals greatly benefit from marine debris cleanup efforts in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
September 27, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
A Hawaiian monk seal lays on a sandy beach while a green net is wrapped around their neck and mouth. A Hawaiian monk seal entangled in a derelict fishing net. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #10137)

From Past Patients to New Moms

Two Hawaiian monk seals who were previously rescued and rehabilitated are now new mothers!
September 20, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
A Hawaiian monk seal mom and pup lay side-by-side on a sandy beach. LL00 and her first pup lay on the sands of Hōlanikū. Credit: Kure Atoll Conservancy (Permit #22677-02)

Is It a Seal or a Sea Lion?

Seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds, but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Learn how to recognize a seal vs. a sea lion.
August 12, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
West Coast
National
Infographic showing illustrated seal and sea lion and describing the differences between the two animals, such as ears, body size, flippers, etc. At first glance, seals (true or “earless seals”) and sea lions look fairly similar. Taking a closer look, these are some of the general differences to tell these animals, such as on the harbor seal (left) and California sea lion (right) pictured above.

Recommended 2024 Species Recovery Grants Projects

NOAA Fisheries has recommended roughly $5.5 million in funding for six new projects and 16 ongoing projects.
May 07, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
An adult orca is swimming underwater, and a calf is next to its dorsal fin. The calf is surfacing from the water. Southern Resident killer whale swimming with calf. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Monk Seal Pup Debuts in Waikīkī on Lei Day

Endangered Hawaiian monk seal RK96 (Kaiwi) gave birth to her sixth pup on popular Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī, Oʻahu! The birth was reported on May 1, 2024.
May 02, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
A rainbow-shaped wave of water ebbs away into an arc around a Hawaiian monk seal mom laying on a sandy beach as her newborn pup lays next to her resting its head on its mom. Hawaiian monk seal RK96 (Kaiwi) and her newborn pup at Kaimana Beach, Waikīkī. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #24359)