Monk seal pups benefit from beach closures
HONOLULU — Beach park closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic have benefited Hawaiian monk seal pups, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Agency researchers said the endangered seals have been able to nurse and rear newborn pups with relatively little disturbance from humans because of the state’s stay-at-home orders.
Nine pups have been born in the main Hawaiian Islands since the start of 2020, including four on Oahu, three on Molokai and one each on Hawaii Island and Kauai.
NOAA does not disclose the exact locations of pups to help protect them.
“Because people have less access to the beach, there has been less potential for interaction, which happens when people are on the beach in large numbers,” said David Schofield, a NOAA stranding coordinator.
Although there are fewer people on the beaches, NOAA officials asked the public to remain a respectful distance from marine animals, including monk seals and turtles
US Supreme Court declines to take up plebiscite case
HAGATNA, Guam — The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will not review a case that could affect the political status of Guam.
The order issued Monday means a July 2019 federal appeals court ruling will stand and Guam’s native inhabitants cannot participate in a political status plebiscite.
The Guam government in December appealed a July 2019 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which said the island’s political status plebiscite is race-based and violates constitutionally protected voting rights.
The non-binding vote would determine whether native inhabitants prefer statehood, free association or independence from the United States.
Guam is a U.S. colony and the results of the plebiscite could have helped shape the island’s future actions involving decolonization.
The court did not issue its reasoning for rejecting the Guam case.