Lingle Opposes Proposed Expansion of Monk Seal Protections
Former Gov. Linda Lingle has come out against expanded federal protections for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, calling them an 鈥渆xample of government over-reach and insensitivity to the concerns of the people of the state.鈥
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wants to designate large areas around the main Hawaiian islands as critical habitat for the monk seal. Currently, the designation only exists around the northwest Hawaiian islands.
Local fishermen strongly oppose the critical habitat designation. It would mean that any activity that involves federal funding, federal permits or a federal action, must also be reviewed by NOAA鈥檚 Fisheries Service to ensure that it won鈥檛 adversely affect the monk seal population.
NOAA officials have said that the designation is unlikely to have much impact on activities on and around the main Hawaiian islands. But Lingle said, in a statement released Tuesday, that she was concerned about its potential interference with renewable energy projects 鈥 such as seawater air conditioning, wave energy, and ocean-thermal energy 鈥 aquaculture, fishing, military activities, harbor improvements and near-shore construction.
