Monk Seals*

• Fewer monk seal pups were born in 2003 as compared to 2002 (51 vs. 71)
• Seal moms were in poorer condition as compared to previous years, and as a result, their pups were smaller on average.
• The survival rate of yearlings was approximately 60%, which was the highest rate since before 1999. Thirty two of the 52 yearlings tagged in 2002 were relocated in 2003.
• A total of nine nursing pups disappeared in 2003: Three from Trig Island, 3 from the Gins, 1 from Round Island, and 2 from East Island.
• Shark activity in 2003 was similar to that in 2002. Sharks were suspected of taking 3 pups. The shark activity appeared to have shifted from Trig Island to Round Island.

*all figures are unofficial.

Turtle Cam
In an exciting new development, a remote controlled camera was set up on East Island to monitor Hawaiian green sea turtle nesting activity. The "Turtle Cam" will eventually be hooked up to a live web-cam site for data collection and as a learning/educational tool.




Cousteau's Voyage to Kure
In mid-July 2003, Jean-Michel Cousteau's film crew visited Tern Island and the French Frigate Shoals to film the area for a special about the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, titled "Voyage to Kure." The Cousteau crew filmed the birdlife on Tern Island and the underwater marine life in the Shoals. Part of the mission of Cousteau's Ocean Future's Society trip was to raise awareness of the marine debris problem in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Marine Debris Clean-up
Marine debris consists of line, fishing net, floats, glass bottles, lighters, and anything else discarded into the ocean. Much of the debris found in the French Frigate Shoals probably comes from items cast off of fishing vessels. In addition to being unsightly, marine debris can pose a threat to wildlife. Some animals, such as albatrosses, are known to ingest small items such as lighters. In some cases the ingested trash proves fatal. Seals and turtles can become entangled in marine debris and then drown, if underwater, or die of exposure, if on the beach. In 2003, staff of the USFWS and NMFS made an extra effort to remove the marine debris from the islands and coral reefs within the French Frigate Shoals. The NMFS seal researchers pulled out masses of line and net from the reef, and turtle researchers on East Island boxed copper wire for recycling and hauled off loads of oblong floats, glass, and other trash.