Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Amanda Wyrick | Aliza Milette-Winfree, Oahu Marine Mammal Response Coordinator for NOAA, conducts an...... read more read more
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Aliza Milette-Winfree has been working for NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Region for 5 years and serves as the Oahu Marine Mammal Response Coordinator.
Background: Thirteen years studying marine mammal behavioral, communication, population and habitat use. Work with various stranding networks. Master's degree in cognitive psychology with a focus on marine mammal behavior and communication. Oahu Marine Mammal Response Coordinator.
Q. What is your role in the response?
A. My role in this response is to communicate daily with the Coast Guard in order to understand if the planned salvaging operations each day might pose any increased risk of release of fuel into the environment. Based on this information I coordinate with our our non-profit partner, Hawaii Marine Animal Response, and NOAA's Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program to ensure our teams are monitoring for seals in the area, continuously assessing the potential risks posed to Hawaiian monk seals, and are at the ready for a response if there is a significant release of fuel.
Q. What is the importance of protecting monk seals in Hawaii?
A. The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. Many of the threats that these animals face are caused by humans. Monk seals are endemic to Hawaii, meaning they are native and are not found anywhere else in the world. Hawaiian monk seals are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and state law in Hawaii.
Q. If someone sees one, who should they report it to?
A. Please help by reporting all sightings of monk seals to 888-256-9840, NOAA’s Pacific Island Region’s Marine Animal Hotline.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge in this response?
A. The nature of this salvaging operation is dynamic and prolonged, thus plans for any day’s operations may change quickly. Ensuring that we have enough trained personnel on stand by for a potential response each day, seven days a week, for months at a time can be challenging and complex, especially when we have other life threatening seal emergencies occurring around the island. Thankfully the staff on our marine mammal emergency response team are an extremely dedicated and skilled group of people that are experienced with being at the ready at all times for seal emergencies and unexpected scenarios.
| Date Taken: | 11.27.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2017 14:44 |
| Story ID: | 256530 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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