Thielen Takes Stand Against Added Protections for Hawaii Monk Seal
Rep. Cynthia Thielen has taken a firm stance against expanding protection for the endangered Hawaii monk seal, warning that it will hurt the state’s push for clean energy.
In a letter sent last week to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, she said she intends to introduce legislation this session instructing the state to oppose a proposed critical habitat zone around the main Hawaiian Islands.
Thielen, a Republican, is a member of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee and a strong proponent of wave energy. In her letter, she writes that the added protections “will effectively kill ocean-based clean energy initiatives.”
Currently, areas around the Northwest Hawaiian Islands are designated as critical habitat for the seals. The designation means that any activity that entails federal funding, a federal permit or a federal action, must also be reviewed by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service to ensure that it won’t adversely impact the monk seal population.
Thielen’s letter follows a similar letter from former governor — and current U.S. senate candidate — Linda Lingle.
