Tourist Arrested For Allegedly Throwing Rock At Endangered Hawaii Monk Seal
NOAA special agents arrested Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, near Seattle on allegations he threw a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal off Lahaina, Maui.[1]
A criminal complaint alleges Lytvynchuk hurled a coconut-sized rock in shallow water at a seal named "Lani," narrowly missing her head.[1] He is charged with harassing and attempting to harass the seal under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.[1] If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison for each charge and fines up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.[1]
Only about 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals remain in the wild, and the species is listed as critically endangered. NOAA special agents arrested Lytvynchuk after agents said they developed evidence linking him to the Lahaina incident, according to the agency's criminal complaint.[1]
The charges are pending in federal court as investigators continue their work.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, NOAA special agents arrested Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk near Seattle, Washington.
- A criminal complaint alleges Lytvynchuk threw a coconut-sized rock at Hawaiian monk seal "Lani" in shallow water off Lahaina, Maui, narrowly missing the seal's head.
- Lytvynchuk is charged with harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison for each charge and fines up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
- Officials say only about 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals remain in the wild, and the species is listed as critically endangered.
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