EAST OAHU, Hawaii (Island News) -- A young Hawaiian monk seal was killed by fishing gear in early September on an island on East Oahu after a jug fishing expedition.

The two-year-old Hawaiian monk seal named Moana (RS34) was found dead earlier this month on Manana Island after "jug rig" gear got caught on her. A tangled mass of fishing line latched onto Moana’s mouth which was connected to a plastic jug used in paddle-out or drone-out fishing.

Following the unfortunate incident, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resource (DLNR) emphasized the threats to Hawaiian monk seals and other sea life that come from these fishing methods. In the event that a line breaks when jug fishing, an excessive amount of gear can be dragged out into the waters by a sea animal, heightening the risk of

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