Page 64 - Livre_MOW2021_EN

62 | TRANSITION AND SOLUTIONS

ENDANGERED SPECIES
An alliance protecting

the Mediterranean

monk seal

The Monk Seal Alliance is honing its action plan to consolidate protection
measures for one of the world’s most endangered species.

The Mediterranean monk seal’s story might have A BELLWETHER SPECIES
ended around twenty years ago, joining the sad list
of extinct species. Decades of hunting and delibe- And in the future? Only continued and enhanced
rate killing, by-catch in fishing nets, disease and conservation action can maintain these population
destroyed habitats pushing the animals to leave numbers and safeguard the future of a species
safe beaches, taking a heavy toll on the population which is still very rare and vulnerable. Deeply sen-
of this marine mammal - which almost became ex- sitive to the quality of their habitat, mature females
tinct. But regional and national measures have led only have one pup per year, if conditions are opti-
to the creation of marine protected areas offering mal. Protecting this bellwether species means pro-
safe havens for these animals to settle down. Work tecting the health of the ocean which it calls home,
has been done with fishing communities to slowly a place still enlivened by the creature.
change their view of the marine predator, which was
long seen as an enemy. And finally, Mediterranean
locals have been made aware of this endangered IMPROVED PROTECTION
species, which has been forced to take refuge in
inaccessible caves. The Monk Seal Alliance (MSA) was launched in
2019 by five foundations committed to protecting
the Mediterranean monk seal. Its goal is to expand
A REVIVAL existing actions, consolidate specific conservation
actions and establish genuine cooperation between
Considerable efforts made to protect the species projects. For the 2021-2024 period, more than €2.7
and its habitats have started to pay off: some 800 million has been invested to support eight major
Mediterranean monk seals have established small projects in crucial areas for the species in the Me-
colonies on the Greek, Turkish and Cypriot coasts, diterranean and Atlantic.
reaching as far as the Atlantic, Madeira or the im-
portant site of Ras Nouadhibou in Mauritania. The Keen to reinforce this strategy, members of the
marine predator is still on the IUCN’s red list, but Monk Seal Alliance met for a lengthy working ses-
has changed status: formerly “critically endange- sion during Monaco Ocean Week. Whilst the future
red”, it is now just “endangered”. This might be a is not so bleak for this iconic seal living in tempe-
sign that the species is becoming more resilient. rate waters, it is still fragile.

© CBD-Hábitat