(AP) – Hawaiʻi conservation officials gave up federal funding for marine mammal protection because of cumbersome paperwork but say they are reapplying for it. A “joint enforcement agreement” had sent hundreds of thousands of federal dollars to the state’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement each year to help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association better protect monk seals, spinner dolphins, sea turtles and other marine animals. Conservation enforcement chief Jason Redulla says the agency withdrew last year to recalibrate and make sure it can meet reporting requirements, and it plans to reapply later this month. While officials say the partnership is beneficial, they say the interruption had minimal impacts.

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