Based on the most reliable estimates, there are less than 700 Mediterranean monk seals in the entire world, while only occasional sightings have been registered in the eastern parts of the Adriatic Sea. The project goal is to collect more information and knowledge about the status of the Mediterranean monk seal and its potentially adequate habitats as well as to define corresponding recommendations for their protection.
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is the rarest seal in the world as well as the most endangered marine mammal in Europe. Based on the most reliable estimates, there are less than 700 of these animals in the entire world, while only occasional sightings have been registered in the eastern parts of the Adriatic Sea.
An actively reproducing population is based in the Greek part of the Ionian Sea, and it is believed that the implementation of the Eastern Adriatic Monk Seal Project can contribute to creating conditions for the species’ expansion to Croatia and neighbouring countries, but primarily to gathering additional knowledge about the status of the Mediterranean monk seal in the eastern part of the Adriatic, identifying adequate locations for resting and raising their pups, and creating appropriate recommendations for their protection!
In order to achieve the above goals, in cooperation with the Greek MOm and EuroNatur, associates from Albania, Montenegro and Croatia will be trained and educated so that they can take responsibility over the long term and acquire the capacity to carry out monitoring of the species and its habitats, with the support of the local information network and international experts.
Name of the project: Eastern Adriatic Monk Seal Project
Project beneficiary: Biom in Croatia,
CZIP in Montenegro,
PPNEA in Albania,
MOm in Greece
Project partners: EuroNatur,
MOm,
CZIP,
PPNEA, Udruga Biom
Project duration: 31 months, 1 June 2018 – 31 December 2020
Total project value: EUR 12,800 (grant to Biom)
Source of funding: EuroNatur
More at:
www.adriaticmonkseal.org
