#National Marine Fisheries Service
Washington man formally charged by Information with allegedly harassing an endangered monk seal on Maui
United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was charged by Information today, May 26, 2026, for allegedly throwing a large rock at the seal’s head, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Commercial fishing halted in Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument upon US District Court ruling
The ruling nullifies a National Marine Fisheries Service letter sent April 25 that gave commercial fishers a green light to fish in the national monument south and southwest of Hawai’i following an executive order by President Donald Trump.
Deceased humpback whale calf off Maui draws state, federal response
Responders are working with staff from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to tow the whale remains offshore for disposition, as requested by Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.
Free ocean learning kits are available Saturday to students on Maui
Free ocean leraning kits will be distributed to students on Maui on Oct. 1 at sites sponsored by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Navy to Reexamine Effects of Pacific Training Exercises on Whales
The US Navy announced this week that it will reevaluate the impacts of its testing and training exercises on endangered whales off Southern California and Hawaiʻi. The move comes in response to a notice of intent to sue from the Center for Biological Diversity, filed after two dead fin whales were found on the hull of a military destroyer in San Diego in May.
Environmental Groups Seek Protections For Whitetip Sharks
Earthjustice filed a lawsuit that aims to force the National Marine Fisheries Service to take action to protect oceanic whitetip sharks.
Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Habitat for Endangered Coral Species
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit today against the National Marine Fisheries Service for alleged failure to protect 12 coral species.
NOAA: 76 Large Whale US Entanglements in 2017
The National Marine Fisheries Service confirmed 76 cases of large whale entanglements in fishing gear or marine debris in US waters last year.
False Killer Whales Receive Habitat Protection
The National Marine Fisheries Service has designated 17,500 square miles of ocean as protected critical habitat for Hawai‘i’s false killer whales, a dolphin species whose numbers have dwindled to around 150 in the wild.
Appeals Court Rules in Case Involving “Take” of Protected Sea Turtles, Birds
A federal appeals court has issued a ruling in a case involving longline fishing and impacts on protected seabirds and endangered loggerhead sea turtles.
Orange Clownfish Under Review For Listing as Threatened or Endangered
“Finding Nemo is getting harder,” that according to scientists at the Center for Biological Diversity. Scientists point toward “global warming” and “acidification of oceans” as the cause of reduced habitat for orange clownfish in coral reefs.
Sea Talk on Hawaii’s False Killer Whales
Maui Ocean Center hosts a Sea Talk tonight (Monday, April 05, 2010) on Hawaii’s False Killer Whales. Dr. Robin W. Baird, a research biologist, offers a slideshow presentation on the species population decline. The main Hawaiian Islands are home to a small resident population of false killer whales, the only known island resident population of […]