Endangered Species Act

The critical habitat for Hawaiian monk seals was established in 1988 by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A critical habitat is an area that contains features of a habitat that are essential for the survival and recovery of a listed species. The critical habitat for monk seals includes all beach areas, sand spits and islets, including all beach crest vegetation to its deepest extent inland, lagoon waters, inner reef waters, and ocean waters out to a depth of 20 fathoms around areas such as Kure Atoll, Midway Islands, Pearl and Hermes Reef, French Frigate Shoals, and Nihoa Island in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Many agencies must take precautions in order to ensure that they do not destroy the ares of critical habitats.

In July 2008, a non-governmental organization sent the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) a petition requesting that the Hawaiian monk seal critical habitat be revised, and more places were designated as critical habitats.