Department of Land and Natural Resources

Kona-Kailua – He’s known as B-18 and for the past week this endangered Hawaiian monk seal has been spotted repeatedly swimming in and around boats at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor on Hawaii Island. He’s feeding on fish scraps that have been thrown overboard. This has prompted the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) to remind people that it is against the law to dispose of fish scraps in state waters.

Honolulu – The translocation of endangered Laysan ducks (Anas laysanensis) to the remote Kure Atoll State Wildlife Sanctuary in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument appears to be a success. Staff from the State of Hawaii, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) report that 19 new downy ducklings emerged over the past week.

HONOLULU – Rule changes are now in effect that prohibit and deter the transport and release of introduced wildlife in Hawaii. Introduced species can impact Hawaii’s ecosystems and economy by introducing harmful predation and competition to indigenous species, damaging watersheds, spreading pathogens and diseases, and harming agriculture.

Honolulu – A DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Officer (DOCARE), on routine patrol Sunday morning, cited a Windward Oahu resident for having dozens of undersized fish. This resulted in not only the fish being confiscated for evidence, but also the fisher’s 16-foot skiff and 3500 feet of net.

HONOLULU, May 7, 2015 — Are you on non-industrial private forest land and want to restore on it native forest habitat for threatened and endangered species? The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has federal funds to help you do this and you are encouraged to apply.

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is seeking public input and comments on a draft forest reserve management plan for Nounou and Kâlepa Forest Reserves on the island of Kaua‘i.

Honolulu – Maui beaches, which had been closed for one mile in each direction from the location of yesterday’s fatal shark incident at Kanahena (Dumps) in the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve on Maui, were reopened as of 12 noon today.

HONOLULU – Black Band disease was found at nearly half of the reef sites surveyed for the presence of the disease in near-shore waters on Kauai. These are the findings contained in a final report authored by the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). Researcher Chris Runyon and her team surveyed 47 coral reef sites over the past year and found the disease in 23 (48%) of them. Runyon said, “A weak relationship was found between the abundance of the disease and water temperature. The lesions caused by black band disease become more active in the summer.” Previous work established the disease is affecting three species of Montipora, or rice, corals and also showed disease "hotspots" at Makua and Anini beaches.

MAKENA, MAUI -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has closed Makena State Park and ocean waters from Big Beach to La Perouse light house to swimmers, divers, and other ocean users. This is in response to a fatal shark bite this morning in the Kanahena Cove area of Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers, Division of Aquatic Resources staff, and County lifeguards are on scene to investigate and warn the public. Shark warning signs are being posted. Further details about the incident are pending.

This posting is for the State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Commission on Water Resource Management. The position is located on the Island of Oahu.