Overview
- The Lahaina incident, captured on Tuesday in a viral video, shows a man throwing a large rock that lands near a monk seal in shallow water.
- A DOCARE officer detained a 37-year-old man from Seattle who matched the description, advised him of his rights, and released him after he requested an attorney.
- DLNR completed its report and sent the case to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, which confirmed it has opened an investigation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- Officials say penalties for harassing monk seals can reach about $8,500 under federal rules, with past cases resulting in several-thousand-dollar fines.
- Hawaiian monk seals number about 1,600 across the islands, so officials urge people to stay at least 50 feet from seals, or 150 feet from mothers with pups, and to report incidents to NOAA at 800-853-1964.