Croatia

Monk seal appearances at Kamenjak

Sightings at Cape Kamenjak near Pula in northern Croatia continue to be recorded by observers on a frequent basis, reports Jasna Antolovic, of the Mediterranean Monk Seal Group (Grupa Sredozemna Medvjedica).

The Italian monk seal NGO Gruppo Foca Monaca (GFM), led by Emanuele Coppola, has been assisting in the monitoring programme, which posted observers in suitable vantage points from dawn-to-dusk.

The seal nears observers on 27 February 2010.		Teamwork: Italian and Croatian colleagues at Cape Kamenjak.

Greece

Alarming numbers of dead seals

	Shot dead on Tilos.

Fifteen dead monk seals have been reported to MOm’s Rescue and Information Network (RINT) so far since January 2010. The cases involve seals of all age groups (6 adults, 3 sub-adults, 4 weaners, 1 pup and 1 of unknown age group) and both sexes.

The cases also originate from different areas of Greece, namely 5 in the Dodecanese (Eastern Aegean), 3 in the Northern Aegean and 6 in the Cyclades. Of these cases, 3 animals were shot to death, while 2 more reveal signs of violent death.

Although it is still too early to draw firm conclusions, the number of deaths is already high and the number of deliberate killings even more alarming.

MOm has already brought these concerns to the attention of the Minister of Environment, Tina Birbili, and urgently requested the implementation of the Action Plan for the Mitigation of the Negative Effects of Monk Seal-Fisheries Interactions in Greece, published last year, following a 3-year research project funded by the EU Life/Nature programme. – Marianna Psaradellis, MOm.

Further info

MOm. 2009. Action Plan for the mitigation of the negative effects of monk seal ‐ fisheries interactions in Greece, Summary Report. MOm, WWF Greece, Fisheries Research Institute, 2009: 1-11. [PDF  2.9 MB]

Gyaros enters the NATURA 2000 network

Following the opening-up of a restricted naval zone at the island of Gyaros in the central Aegean, MOm undertook a research effort to assess the status of the Mediterranean monk seal in the area.

Gyaros.

Data collected quickly led us to the conclusion that this newly discovered breeding colony is of utmost importance for the conservation of the species and that it needs urgent protection. Since Gyaros was not at that time part of the NATURA 2000 network, it was feared that its new status, free of military access restrictions, would spell trouble for the monk seal colony.

MOm presented these findings and scientific evidence to the Greek authorities, with an appeal that the island be incorporated in the Natura 2000 network. The Ministry of Environment subsequently agreed, and has recently taken the necessary legal steps to achieve that objective. This should be considered an important first step for the protection of the species on Gyaros before detailed protected area management plans can be designed and implemented. – Panos Dendrinos, MOm.

Further info

Dendrinos, P., A.A. Karamanlidis, S. Kotomatas, V. Paravas and S. Adamantopoulou. 2008. Report of a new Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) breeding colony in the Aegean Sea, Greece. Aquatic Mammals 34(3): 355-361. [Abstract]