Hawaiian monk seal RW02 apparently swallowed everything — hook, line and sinker.

Fortunately, a conscientious fisherman reported the hooking, and officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were able to locate the 11-year-old male monk seal and remove the potentially fatal contents from his stomach using endoscope technology.

NOAA released the seal, also known by the nickname “Kauai Kolohe,” back into the ocean at Mokuleia on Oahu’s North Shore over the weekend.

The fisherman, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported the hooking June 23, and NOAA is thanking him for it because as a result the team was able to take swift action and help RW02 within the next two weeks.

“We really applaud the fisherman and fishing community who wants to work with NOAA on helping to protect the wildlife, the sea turtles, the whales, dolphins and seals,” said David Schofield, NOAA stranding coordinator.

He emphasized that fishermen and the public should call any time a seal is accidentally hooked or sighted with fishing line coming out of its mouth.

“We want people to call,” said Schofield. “We’re going to get out there and help the seal, and there’s no reason not to call us. We want to partner with the fishing community on these types of things. And we understand that accidents happen.”

Dr. Michelle Barbieri, NOAA Fisheries veterinarian, said the team was able to use an endoscope — a flexible, fiber-optic tube with a camera attached at the end — and a snare to remove the hook and contents. As a result, the team was able to release RW02 the next day.

Typically, the endoscope is used to plan a more intensive surgical procedure, which requires more recovery time, she said.

Over the last 18 years, there have been 174 seal hooking events across the main Hawaiian Islands, said Schofield. Some of these are superficial hookings, where the hook gets attached to the seal’s mouth or cheeks. Sometimes the hooks are dislodged on their own. In more serious but fewer cases, the seal swallows the hook.

Typically there are anywhere from six to a dozen hookings a year in the main Hawaiian Islands, he said.

Despite the happy ending for RW02, Schofield said he would like to work with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and fishing community to come up with a comprehensive plan to prevent the hookings.

“NOAA looks forward to having conversations with DLNR on how to prevent these types of hookings in the future,” he said.

Hawaiian monk seal RW02 had swallowed a barbed hook, which is much more harmful to animals and more difficult to extricate. NOAA recommends using barbless circle hooks to minimize fishing’s impact on protected species.

NOAA researchers first discovered RW02 as a very young seal on Kauai in 2008 and are familiar with him, having attached a satellite tag to track him previously. In 2013 he began hanging out mostly on Oahu.

Volunteers and staff from Hawaii Marine Animal Response and Ka‘ena Point State Park helped locate RW02 and have since spotted him at Mokuleia, doing well.

Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species protected by state and federal laws. Only an estimated 1,400 Hawaiian monk seals remain in the wild.

To report a hooked seal, call NOAA’s hotline at 888-256-9840.