HONOLULU — The attorney for a man who slapped a Hawaiian monk seal while visiting Oahu issued an apology on behalf of his client, who paid fines issued by federal and state agencies.
Attorney Blake Long in North Carolina said the man paid the fines following an investigation of a video shared on social media, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Wednesday.
The client requested that the attorney issue the apology “to express his sincere remorse for his immature, inexcusable actions,” Long said.
Long did not disclose the amount paid and said he advised his client to remain anonymous to avoid backlash.
Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement and the Hawaii Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement began an investigation into the video in February.
The video, taken at least a month before its release, showed a man approaching a monk seal from behind and slapping its hindquarters, which is a violation of the Endangered Species Act.
“While this is an incident that my client wishes to leave behind, he is also hopeful that his mistake will be used as an example of the types of conduct tourists must avoid when encountering wildlife,” Long said in a statement.
The population of about 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. Under Hawaii law, the harassment of a monk seal is considered a class C felony, punishable by imprisonment and fines.
“Harassing a protected species has serious consequences,” NOAA’s law enforcement office said in a statement.
More seals may be on Hawaii’s shorelines because the coronavirus pandemic has reduced the number of people outside, NOAA said.
“This is a friendly reminder for our ocean users that the animals do frequent beaches to rest and with less beach traffic, you are seeing more animals come ashore to rest and sun themselves,” the agency said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.