Back to Hawaii News index

Posted: Monday, June 11th, 2007 8:58 AM HST

Study: El Nino boosts marine debris risks for monk seals

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ A scientific study shows endangered Hawaiian monk seals get trapped in marine debris more frequently during El Nino years than other years. El Nino refers to a warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that occurs every few years. The study says El Nino causes some ocean currents carrying marine debris to flow father south into the middle of the Hawaiian monk seals' home in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Mary Donohue is a marine mammal ecologist with the University of Hawaii's Sea Grant College Program and a co-author of the report. She says the findings may help by letting experts know they should spend more time looking for and helping entangled monk seals during El Nino years. Donohue and co-author David Foley of the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research published their findings in the March issue of New Scientist and April's Marine Mammal Science. (Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved)