Protected Species Division

The mission of the Protected Species Division is to provide the scientific foundation for conservation of Hawaiian monk seals, cetaceans and sea turtles in the Pacific islands. More...

News and Highlights

• May 8, 2013
  

  Proposed Removal of Galapagos Sharks Aimed at Improved Survival of Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal

  The PIFSC Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program has submitted a permit request to continue the Center's efforts to mitigate Galapagos shark predation on monk seals at French Frigate Shoals (FFS) in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. More...
• April 24, 2013
  

  PIFSC Scientists Expanding Knowledge of Marine Turtles in South Pacific

  PIFSC biologists Kyle Van Houtan and T. Todd Jones traveled to Rose Island National Wildlife Refuge in American Samoa to study marine turtles there. More...
• April 24, 2013
  

  Monitoring of Hawaiian Monk Seal Population Continued in 2012 Despite Reduced Resources for Field Surveys

  PIFSC scientists annually survey the endangered Hawaiian monk seal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), where most of the population resides and where the abundance of monk seals is declining. More...
• April 24, 2013
  

  Standardized Methods Developed for Passive Acoustic Surveys of Cetaceans

  In November 2012, Erin Oleson and Yvonne Barkley of the PIFSC Cetacean Research Program participated in a 10-day workshop at the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) in La Jolla, CA, to develop standardized methods for passive acoustic data collection. More...
• April 24, 2013
  

  Cooperative Study Investigates Behavior of False Killer Whales in Relation to Longline Fishing Gear

  In March 2013, scientists in the PIFSC Cetacean Research Program will initiate a project in cooperation with the Hawaii longline fleet to better understand the behavior of false killer whales around longline fishing gear. More...

Recent Staff Publications

• April 30, 2013

  Behavior of juvenile green turtles in a coastal neritic habitat: validating time-depth-temperature records using visual observations

  Francke DL, Hargrove SA, Vetter EW, Winn CD, Balazs GH, Hyrenbach KD
  [2013] Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 444:55-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2013.03.011

  View Abstract
• April 27, 2013

  Dietary comparison of two Hawaiian monk seal populations: the role of diet as a driver of divergent population trends

  Cahoon MK, Littnan CL, Longenecker K, Carpenter JR
  [2013] Endangered Species Research 20: 137-146. DOI: 10.3354/esr00491

  View Abstract
• April 27, 2013

  Body growth in Hawaiian monk seals

  Baker JD, Johanos TC, Wurth TA, Littnan CL
  [2013] Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/mms.12035

  View Abstract Download ( 0.7 MB PDF )
• April 22, 2013

  Mesophotic coral ecosystems - potential candidates as essential fish habitat and habitat areas of particular concern.

  Blyth-Skyrme VJ, Rooney JJ, Parrish FA, Boland RC
  [2013] Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Administrative Report H-13-02, 53 p

  Download ( 9.5 MB PDF )
• April 22, 2013

  Cetacean surveys in the waters of the southern Mariana Archipelago

  Hill M, Ligon A, Deakos M, U A, Milette-Winfree A, Oleson E
  [2013] Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Data Report, DR-13-005, 24 p

  Download ( 1.9 MB PDF )
• April 22, 2013

  Cetacean surveys of Guam and CNMI waters: May - July, 2012

  Hill M, Ligon A, Deakos M, U A, Milette-Winfree A, Oleson E
  [2013] Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, PIFSC Data Report, DR-13-001, 40 p

  Download ( 3.1 MB PDF )