What Should I Do if I See Someone Interacting with Marine Wildlife in Hawai‘i?
If you see someone closely interacting with marine wildlife—such as by touching or chasing them—in person or on social media, you may be witnessing a violation of the MMPA or ESA. The best way you can help is to report the incident and submit videos or photos of potentially illegal encounters with monk seals, dolphins, whales, and sea turtles.
To submit a report, you can call:
- NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840 (best number for all protected marine wildlife emergencies, enforcement is option 6)
- NOAA Office of Law Enforcement: (800) 853-1964
- DLNR DOCARE: (808) 643-3567. This number is toll-free statewide, and is answered 24 hours a day.
- You can also send videos, photos, and social media links to RespectWildlife@noaa.gov
View marine wildlife from a safe distance, providing the following NOAA guidelines:
- 10 feet for sea turtles
- 50 feet for Hawaiian monk seals
- 50 yards (150 feet) for dolphins and small whales
- 100 yards (300 feet or a football field) for humpback whales
Videos are much better for documenting an encounter.
For NOAA Fisheries to take action, it is important to provide the right information. Videos are much better for documenting an encounter. The most useful videos clearly show the behavior of both the people and the animals involved in the incident. Also, it can be very difficult to take appropriate action without knowing the identity of the people involved. Photos can help law enforcement identify people, vessels, or vehicles.(NOAA Fisheries, 2021)
Fines
Violations are subject to fines ranging from $100 to $10,000, and jail sentences of up to one year.
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