Page 9 - Monachus_2015

A. A. Karamanlidis et al. The Mediterranean monk seal

(Anonymous 2009b, Notarbartolo di Sciara et al. 2009, Hale tion actions include additional research and monitoring of
et al. 2011, González & Fernandez de Larrinoa 2012). In important monk seal subpopulations and the establishment
Madeira, a clean-up operation, in combination with efforts of a functional network of marine protected areas that will
to persuade local fishermen to change fishing gear, effec- protect critical monk seal habitat.
tively solved the problem of accidental entanglement (Neves
1991). As a result, the effects of negative interactions
between monk seals and fisheries in the archipelago of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Madeira are considered to be comparatively less than in
We would like to thank M. Schnellmann, The Monachus
other parts of the species’ range (Hale et al. 2011). In Cabo
Guardian, for providing valuable comments on previous
Blanco, efforts to understand the importance of monk seal –
drafts of this paper. Nancy Jennings and three anonymous
fisheries interactions (González & Fernandez de Larrinoa
reviewers provided valuable comments that greatly
2012) have been coupled with environmental education and
improved the quality of the paper.
capacity building with fishermen, in order to mitigate the
negative effects of these interactions. In Greece, where nega-
tive interactions between monk seals and fisheries are con-
sidered to be a serious threat to the species’ survival, REFERENCES
research efforts to understand the effects of such interac-
Abou-Zahra A (2013) Rare and pregnant monk seal falls victim
tions have gone hand in hand with conservation efforts
to Arab instability. International Fund for Animal Welfare.
(Androukaki et al. 2006, Karamanlidis et al. 2008). From
http://www.ifaw.org/united-kingdom/news/rare-and
2005 to 2009, the European Union funded a LIFE–Nature
-pregnant-monk-seal-falls-victim-arab-instability.
project focussed exclusively on mitigating the conflict
Adamantopoulou S, Androukaki E, Kotomatas S (1999) The
between monk seals and fisheries in Greece; a relevant
distribution of the Mediterranean monk seal in Greece based
Action Plan was produced (Anonymous 2009b). However,
on an information network. Contributions to the Zoogeography
the concrete conservation actions proposed in this Action and Ecology of the Eastern Mediterranean Region 1: 399–404.
Plan have not been implemented as yet, mainly because of Adamantopoulou S, Anagnostopoulou K, Dendrinos P,
financial constraints and limited political will to enforce rel- Kotomatas S, Labadariou N, Pipinis V, Stroufliotis G, Tounta
evant fisheries regulations. In Turkey, research (Güçlüsoy & E, Zavras V (2000) Conserving critical habitats for the
Savas¸ 2003b, Güçlüsoy 2008) and environmental activities Mediterranean monk seal in Greece through the creation of a
with fishermen and aquaculture operators have been carried network of protected areas. European Research on Cetaceans
out. 14: 33.
Rescue and rehabilitation of wounded, sick and orphaned Adamantopoulou S, Androukaki E, Dendrinos P, Kotomatas S,
seals is or has been an integral part of all monk seal conser- Paravas V, Psaradellis M, Tounta E, Karamanlidis AA (2011)
vation programmes, and has been carried out with varying Movements of Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus
degrees of effort and success in Greece, Turkey, Madeira, monachus) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Aquatic
and Cabo Blanco (Neves & Pires 1998, Vedder et al. 1998, Mammals 37: 256–261.
Androukaki et al. 2003, Anonymous 2007a). Aguilar A, Cappozzo LH, Gazo M, Pastor T, Forcada J, Grau E
Currently, research and monitoring of monk seal sub- (2007) Lactation and mother-pup behaviour in the
populations and education and public awareness campaigns Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus: an unusual
pattern for a phocid. Journal of the Marine Biological
are, to a greater or lesser degree, implemented in all the
Association of the United Kingdom 87: 93–99.
main parts of the species’ range, although much scope for
Alfaghi IE, Abed AS, Dendrinos P, Psaradellis M, Karamanlidis
improvement and expansion remains.
AA (2013) First confirmed sighting of the Mediterranean
The relative importance of the identified conservation
monk seal (Monachus monachus) in Libya since 1972. Aquatic
priorities varies among the four main parts of the species’
Mammals 39: 81–84.
range (Table 1) because of differences in monk seal popula-
Androukaki E, Adamantopoulou S, Dendrinos P, Tounta E,
tion dynamics, public acceptance of the species and avail-
Kotomatas S (1999) Causes of mortality in the Mediterranean
able funding. monk seal (Monachus monachus)inGreece. Contributions to
Despite recent positive population trends in some of the the Zoogeography and Ecology of the Eastern Mediterranean
most important subpopulations, the Mediterranean monk Region 1: 405–411.
seal remains one of the most endangered marine mammals Androukaki E, Fatsea E, Hart L, Osterhaus A, Tounta E,
on Earth. In recent years, important steps have been made Kotomatas S (2002) Growth and development of
in understanding the biology, ecology, and behaviour of this Mediterranean monk seal pups during rehabilitation.
elusive species, but more needs to be done to safeguard the Proceedings of the 16th Annual Conference of the European
future of the Mediterranean monk seal. Priority conserva- Cetacean Society, 194.

Mammal Review (2015) © 2015 The Mammal Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd 9