Hawaiian Monk Seal Handling and Measurement Records Since 1967

Hawaiian monk seal handling records collected by NOAA personnel and cooperating scientists since 1981, with some historical data extending back to 1967. The data includes measurements from live seals during tagging, health screening, and other events, as well as measurements from dead seals during necropsy. It is part of the ongoing population assessment and recovery efforts for this protected species.

Use Cases

• Analyze population growth and survival rates based on long-term handling records.
• Study seal health and body condition trends based on measurement data collected during various events.
• Model the impact of conservation interventions like disentanglement or translocation based on event records.
• Assess age and sex structure of the population based on tagging and measurement history.

Strengths

• Long-term temporal coverage with records from 1981 to present and some historical data from 1967.
• Data collection is tied to specific, documented events like tagging, health screening, and necropsy.
• Produced by NOAA's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, an authoritative source for marine science.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Some historical USFWS data for seals that disappeared before the PSD program are only available in paper form.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Handling and measurement by PSD personnel and cooperating scientists during field events like tagging and health screening.

Time Range

1981 to present, with some records from 1967.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-14 23:04:53.946518; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Hawaiian Archipelago, Pacific Region.