September 24, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA field biologists returned to Honolulu after 3 months at remote camps in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. They researched and rescued some of the most iconic and endangered species in Hawaiʻi—Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles.
This year, our field biologists established protected species camps at five atolls:
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French Frigate Shoals.
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Laysan Island.
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Lisianski Island.
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Pearl and Hermes Reef.
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Kure Atoll.
Our field teams also conducted population assessment surveys at Nihoa, Mokumanamana (Necker), and Midway Atoll.
NOAA has operated monk seal research camps at all major breeding sites for 36 years. We have maintained French Frigate Shoals turtle nesting records, which stretch back 47 years. Several of the field researchers have been around for decades. They have some of the most consistent sets of eyes and ears in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. They are able to observe changes in the ecosystem, improving our response to threats to these important species.