HONOLULU (KHON2) — A young Hawaiian monk seal has died after becoming entangled in fishing gear, and it’s prompted renewed calls for safer fishing practices throughout Hawaiʻi.
The seal, known as RS34 or Moana, was discovered earlier this month on Mānana Island. Officials with the Department of Land and Natural Resources said the cause was paddle-out or drone-out fishing using a “jug rig” variant.
Moana was 2 years old. She was born in 2023 as the fourth pup of her mother, RF34, and was named by students at Mālama Honua Elementary School in Waimānalo.
Dangers of jug fishing
Wildlife officials explained that jug rigs use very strong fishing line and often include an empty household jug to float baited hooks…