On October 19, the Townsend Cromwell left Pearl and Hermes and traveled overnight to Kure Atoll, the northernmost island in the chain. Kure is smaller than Pearl and Hermes, with two islands in the atoll. There were several critically endangered monk seals hauled out on the beach. It was a disturbing sight to watch the seals resting near, or on top, of large piles of debris and net. Seals are curious, and often explore the nets and debris, which can entangle them.
Biologists regularly observe seal pups resting on top of the nets.
Critical monk seal habitat includes all beach areas and land, lagoon waters, inner reef waters, and ocean waters out to 20 fathoms around all emergent land. This ecosystem is also an important nesting habitat for the threatened green sea turtle. Photo courtesy of the National Marine Fisheries Service.