The maui ocean center marine institute (mocmi) proposes a project to support the management, field response, and outreach for hawaiian monk seals on maui

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute a cooperative agreement totaling $300,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Unallied Projects program (CFDA 11.454) to support management, field response, and outreach for Hawaiian monk seals on Maui.

MOCMI will establish a program for reporting seal sightings and incidents, respond to seal haul-outs, pupping, and molting events, and assist NOAA Fisheries with stranding responses. The award also funds public outreach and education designed to reduce adverse human-seal interactions and improve community understanding of issues impacting monk seals, contributing to conservation of this protected species.

The period of performance runs through September 30, 2028, with work performed in Wailuku, Hawaii.

This initiative aims to establish a program for reporting seal sightings and incidents, responding to seal haul-outs, pupping, and molting events, and assisting NOAA fisheries with stranding responses. Through public outreach and education, mocmi seeks to reduce adverse human-seal interactions and improve community understanding of issues impacting monk seals, ultimately contributing to the conservation of this protected species.