A man was detained after throwing a rock at a monk seal swimming off the Maui shoreline.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said its Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement was alerted by Maui police to a reported case of monk seal harassment.
After investigating the incident, officers located and detained a 37-year-old man from Seattle, Washington matching the description. At the moment, no criminal charges have been filed.
Local news outlets reported the monk seal swam to a nearby group of rocks.
Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and state law.
The Hawaiian monk seal is considered one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, with only an estimated 1,400 to 1,600 remaining.
It is illegal to disturb, harass, feed, or harm a monk seal, and violations can result in fines or criminal penalties.
