The National Marine Rubbish Tip of Zakynthos…
Last June I was in Zakynthos, where a viable population of monk seals (Monachus monachus) still survives. The island also hosts the most important nesting area for Caretta caretta in the EU and a National Marine Park; the importance of such an area in an international context (for Italy also!) is therefore indubitable.
Well, let me say that on the island (it was the first time I had been there) I had a strange feeling: from one side a feeling of wonder when, for example, I had the unique chance to swim with the sea turtle and also to find seal tracks canoeing by a remote beach on the west coast (it is one of very few places in the EU where you can experience a situation like that!). But on the other side, I must say that I had a feeling of anger and helplessness: in fact, it seems that nothing is going on to save such a unique marine ecosystem! The beaches that should be “the sanctuary” for nesting turtles look more like a sort of garbage dump. I saw with my own eyes the tracks of the turtles coming out of the sea, looking for a square meter of sand to dig and lay eggs, forced to dig in the loads of rubbish, and abandon the beach unsuccessfully… Volunteers present at the beaches confirmed it. This incredible situation happened inside the Park, right in the “core” area (zone “A”)! It’s unbelievable, because a couple of days of hard work would probably be enough to clean all the beaches of Lagana gulf.
But regrettably, rubbish does not seem to be the only problem for nesting turtles. No real control on tourists’ behaviour seems to exist on these beaches: everyone can stay and place a beach umbrella where eggs have been laid the night before; light and noise are high during night time too, increasing human structures in the Park (legal? – I do not think so) are present on the most important beaches (e.g. Dafni beach); little or no information on such a unique environment is available. Things really seem to be turning out badly for the turtles…!
The only partial exception to such a sad situation is Gerekas beach, which is partially clean and where a good volunteer staff is working. But the most important area for turtles in the EU, in the core of a National Park, can’t be without surveillance! Volunteers are important but absolutely not enough!
Concerning the monk seal, simply let me underline and recall that no action, no studies and no protection measures are officially being undertaken on such a small but viable population, belonging to the most endangered species of marine mammal of Europe…! Its presence is probably even more important than the turtles in an international context...!
I recently sent a letter to the Greek authorities (the Ministry of Environment) concerning the matter, but of course I do not expect any result as a consequence…
– Claudio Groff, Trento, Italy
 Demetres Karavellas, Director of WWF Greece, replies:
As a representative of one of the NGOs that have been active on Zakynthos for many years, I cannot but share the concern of your reader on the present state of affairs on the island. Regarding firstly the issue of monk seal conservation, I can confirm the fact that this island hosts a small but important population of this species. Following years of local field research, we put together a comprehensive conservation plan, calling for the establishment and management of a marine protected area throughout the range of the monk seal habitat. This was submitted to the relevant Ministry of Environment for official adoption and legal enactment. Regrettably, despite our continued lobbying we have seen little progress from the side of the Greek government. Nevertheless, we will continue to push for what most Monachus Guardian readers consider so blatantly obvious – effective in situ conservation measures for one of the most endangered species in the world.
With regard to the marine turtle habitat, it is true that the situation of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos was totally unacceptable this summer. NGOs such as WWF Greece and Archelon submitted repeated complaints both to the EU and the Greek authorities. Through an e-campaign that we ran, the Greek Minister for Environment received over 20,000 emails in 48 hours, urging him to take action. On the ground, in the absence of public wardening, our volunteers did all they could to safeguard the beaches.
I might also add that the long term protection of the core of the Park, Sekania beach (which your reader may not have visited as it is only accessible by researchers with special permits) was in fact secured when WWF Greece purchased the land surrounding the beach so as to avoid the threat of tourism infrastructure encroaching on the beach. The most important nesting site for sea turtles in the entire Mediterranean was conserved through a non-governmental initiative.
All this is clearly not enough. Inevitably, there is a limit to what NGOs can do to conserve endangered species and their habitats. The government has a critical responsibility to respond to the needs of such areas and put in place the appropriate legislation and management mechanisms to deliver. It cannot remain indifferent to the degradation of such valuable biodiversity hotspots.
There is a glimpse of hope. Under strong pressure from the EU, the management body for the Park is now being re-established and is being offered initial funding to hire the necessary personnel.
There is still a great deal more that needs to be done. From our side, all I can do is to assure your concerned reader that we will persist, both in the field but also in the policy arena, to make Zakynthos a safer haven for its wonderful fauna.
Ghost site still entangling researchers
I’ve been researching Hawaiian Monk Seals for a college research paper and your old website was set up as a link from a U.S. government website.
I happened to find your new website by accident during a web search.
Would it be possible for you to update your old website “www.monachus.org” with a link to your new website “www.monachus-guardian.org”?
Thanks!
– Diana Dority, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA.
Editor’s reply:
We have taken up this issue with IFAW on a number of occasions, having received many verbal and written enquiries regarding the lack of forwarding links on the old monachus.org web site.
Unfortunately, the news from IFAW (which has controlled the site from early 2002) is far from positive. While expressing regret for any inconvenience, the organisation has let it be known that updating the site with forwarding links is still not a priority.
If many readers find that response puzzling – given the paltry effort and expense that would be involved in adding links – so do we.
Unfortunately, it appears that students, teachers, researchers and journalists who are searching for up-to-date information on the monk seal and who are mistakenly referred to the moribund monachus.org, will continue to be told that the latest issue online is from November 2001.
Tagged seal at the Four Seasons
A tagged seal has been hauled out on our beach at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii for the past 2 days. Its orange tag on the right rear flipper indicated it was H46 [Later corrected to H45, ed.]. A large area around the seal is roped-off. There have been 4 different seals hauled out here in the last year (this is the first tagged one). Who would know the history of this seal?
– David Chai, Four Seasons Resort, Hawaii
Editor’s note: We passed this enquiry on to Thea Johanos-Kam of NOAA, who replied:
We are interested in all monk seal sightings, and sightings of tagged seals are of special importance. To report Hawaiian monk seal sightings, please call the Monk Seal Sighting Line at (808) 983-5715. To report problems such as monk seal strandings or harassments, please call the NOAA Fisheries Hotline at (888) 256-9840. Because red/orange H46 is not a valid tag, the seal reported with orange tag H46 on the right hind flipper is most likely RH44, a seal with tag H45 on the right hind flipper (originally red, faded to orange). This seal is female and was born at Poipu on Kauai in 2000. She remained on Kauai through 2003, was sighted on Oahu in 2004, and then moved to the Big Island by March 2005.
The editor reserves the right to edit letters for the sake of clarity and space
|
