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Vol. 11 (2): November 2008 |
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Recovering the Balearic Islands for the Monk Sealby Miquel À. Grimalt i Vert
Last year we edited an attractive multilingual book on the monk seal (available for download from The Monachus Guardian, PDF We are aware that our efforts in favour of this emblematic species are a contribution, among many others, to fulfil the conservation objectives for the species and also to do our bit to reach the best possible environmental standards for the Mediterranean: the monk seal is not only intrinsically important, but is also a powerful flagship species for coastal and marine ecosystems. The efforts of the Balearic Government to protect the surrounding sea are visible in 49.600 ha of marine reserves (more than 18% of the waters under the jurisdiction of the Balearic Islands Government), a national marine/terrestrial park, several nature reserves that include marine zones, and 106.000 ha of marine areas included in the Natura 2000 network. We are proud of being the Mediterranean region with the most extensive legal framework and unrivalled infrastructures to protect the marine environment. We believe, therefore, that the moment has come to take one more step, and to offer our island coasts and our society to the international community to promote the recovery of the species in the Western Mediterranean. Our islands lie at a key point that would allow contact between the main surviving populations of Monachus monachus (the Aegean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean), and overcome the geographical barrier that separates them. It was for that reason we promoted, in the recent IUCN World Congress, a motion in favour of the species. This motion [see IUCN resolution calls for monk seal action, this issue] has, for the first time, resulted in the IUCN General Assembly making a specific formal resolution in favour of the Mediterranean monk seal. But by far the best news is that, for several months, an adult monk seal has been living along the west coast of Majorca. The animal has spent the entire summer living in intensely touristic surroundings, and yet has shown that the Majorcan environment is compatible with his presence. It seems that the species has reappeared here as support and encouragement for the conservation initiatives of the Balearic islanders. We promise we will try not to disappoint our guest and eagerly await his decision to stay forever!
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Copyright © 2008 Miquel À. Grimalt i Vert, The Monachus Guardian. All Rights Reserved |
6.1MB), and very soon, in collaboration with Fundació Caixa de Catalunya, we will launch an itinerant exhibition on this species visiting the main harbours along the coast of our Archipelago. A notable momentum has been obtained in favour of the species, and even the professional fishermen’s organisations have voted in favour of the plans prepared for restoring the presence of the monk seal along our coasts.