The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus was once a common inhabitant of the Mediterranean Sea. Over time, its distribution has experienced a sharp reduction, primarily attributed to various factors stemming from human activities. Known reproductive sub-populations of the species are nowadays concentrated along the coasts of Greece and Turkey. However, occasional but recurrent sightings or movements of individuals are being recorded along most of the coasts in the species ́ former distribution range within the Mediterranean Sea. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive require the establishment of monitoring programmes to obtain indicators for the Good Environmental Status of European waters. Here we present the monitoring programmes we carried out on the Endangered Mediterranean monk seal in the central Mediterranean Sea. The output of the work carried out in the central Mediterranean Sea for such a long period of time indicates the relevance of continuous monitoring systems for the monk seal as a top predator in the area. a. The species may be useful as a key species within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for Descriptors D1 (Marine Biodiversity), D4 (Food Webs) and D10 (Marine Litter).
Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-4961-7410
Archipelagos, Greece - ORCID: 0000-0002-3312-4662
Archipelagos - environment and development, Spain - ORCID: 0000-0003-2729-8348
Centre Oceanographic Vigo (IEO-CSIC), Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-2691-3807
Chapter Title
Monitoring the mediterranean monk seal in the Central Mediterean Sea
Authors
Luigi Bundone, Aliki Panou, Gema Hernandez-Milian, Giulio Pojana
Language
Italian
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6.07
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2024
Copyright Information
© 2024 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Book Title
Tenth International Symposium Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques
Book Subtitle
Livorno (Italy) 11th-13th June 2024
Editors
Laura Bonora, Marcantonio Catelani, Matteo De Vincenzi, Giorgio Matteucci
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2024
Copyright Information
© 2024 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0556-6
eISBN (xml)
979-12-215-0557-3
Series Title
Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques
Series E-ISSN
2975-0288