Federal marine officials are warning fishermen to stop dumping fish parts in waters off a boat ramp in east Kauai because it’s attracting endangered monk seals.

In the last two and a half years, two yearling monk seals have been found dead in the Lihi Canal in Kapaa after apparently getting entangled in fish nets and drowning, officials said.

“We’re focusing outreach, education and possible enforcement efforts on boat fishing, as this is where the parts are coming from,” said Jamie Thompton, the Kauai Marine Mammal Response Program coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The law requires fish parts be thrown into garbage cans provided at state small boat harbors.

On March 30, officials relocated a 10-month-old monk seal known as RH92 from east to west Kauai in the hope that the move would keep it away from Lihi Canal.

The yearling seal not only returned to Lihi Canal, but also brought an adult seal known as RK13 with it.

Together, they’ve been feeding on small fish in the man-made waterway along with discarded fish parts, officials said.

Of an estimated 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals in existence, about 45 frequent Kauai waters.

The endangered Hawaiian monk seal is protected by both federal and state laws, and injuring or killing a seal carries serious penalties.