In the Pacific Islands Region, the Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi ) is an endangered and endemic species whose range overlaps with an aquaculture facility which uses open-water finfish net pens. Such net pens are a novel approach to aquaculture in the Hawaiian Islands, and there is high interest in replicating this model to expand the local aquaculture industry. Thus there is an imperative to ensure that open-water aquaculture operations can coexist safely with native protected species. Aquaculture facilities can attract wildlife, including protected species. NOAA Fisheries has been working with an aquaculture facility to understand interactions with monk seals, following a mortality event and subsequent reinitiation of Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation . This work is a coordinated effort between the regulatory branch at the Pacific Islands Regional Office, scientists at the Pacific Islands Fishery Science Center, and the farm. This work aims to identify monk seal behaviors associated with the farm and implement protocols and mitigation measures to reduce the risk of monk seal injury or death. Outcomes from this work will provide a more detailed understanding of protected species behaviors around the pens and supports the industry by providing regulatory processes to reduce these risks.