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Contributionsto the Zoogeographyand Ecologyof the EasternMediterraneanRegion
Vol.1(1999),pp.399-404
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL IN
GREECE BASED ON AN INFORMATION NETWORK
S. ADAMANTOPOULOU, E. ANDROUKAKI & S. KOTOMATAS
Abstract
This study is an attempt to determine
monachus)
Network,
the distribution
of the Mediterranean
in Greece. This work is part of a larger project established
which consists of a network
continuous
direct
and indirect
of more than 700 contacts in coastal Greece and wit~ which there is
communication.
The data used were informati.on
received, relative to monk seal sightings from throughout
collected
in the field
the monk seal still remains widely
distributed
and others. During the
and 79 reports of dead
throughout
Greece. In addition,
the sightings of newborn pups in a number of coastal areas suggest that several breeding (sub )populations
exist within the species distribution.
dence
of breeding
in specific
Furthermore,
areas (Samos
suggest that there may be important
the high frequency of seal sightings in conjunction
- Fourni,
Kythira,
(sub)populations
or
the country. The data include the date and location
of observation, as well as, other details on the description of the animal, its behavior,
study period (1991- I 995), we collected in total, 540 reports of alive seal observations
seals. The results indicatf!1hat
monk seal (Monachus
in 1990, the Rescue and Information
Kassos
- Karpathos,
-
Pelion
which should be considered
North
Evia,
may
with eviMilos),
in the national strategy for
the protect1on of the sp~cies.
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INTRODUCTION
The Mediterranean Monk seal, Monachus monachus, is a highly endangered
species. The main surviving groups are still found in Greece and Mauritania. Its world
population is estimated to' be 400-500 individuals, of which 200-250 are estimated to live
in Greece (REUNDERS
et at. 1993), with best known populations in the National Marine
Park of Alonnissos - Northern Sporades (HSSPMS 1995) and the Ionian islands (PANDO
et at. 1993). The species is scattered throughout the 15.000km coastline of Greece, and it
399
frequents mainly rocky, deserted and inaccessible coasts. The rarity of the speciesand .the
inaccessibility of its habitat make the study of its distribution and ecology difficult, which
is the reason for the limited information that exists for many islands and sections of coastline.
Over the last 20 years, several studies have been conducted in an effort to determine
the distribution and the status of the speciesin Greece. A limited number where direct surveys of coasts (MARCHESSAUX
& DuGUY 1977, SERGEANT
et ai. 1978, VERRIOPOULO
1984), while several cases involved indirect methodologies through interviews or questionnaires distributed to local authorities (VAMVAKASet ai. 1978, VERRIOPOULOS
&
KIORTSIS1984, VLACHOUTSIKOU
& LAZARIDIS1990).. A common conclusion in all the
above studies is that the Mediterranean monk seal is widely distributed throughout the
country. However, the difficulty in covering within one study the whole country, variability in methodologies used, and the differences in relative importance attributed in different areasby researchers,do not allow the consistent evaluation of the status of the species
within the country through time.
This study.is an attempt to determine the distribution of the Mediterranean monk
seal in Greece using collected or received information related to monk seal sightings from
throughout Greece. It is part of a larger project established in 1991, the Rescue and
Information Network, which consists of a network of more than 700 contacts in coastal
Greece. The overall aim of the network is the establishment of a consistent long-term
working relationship with coastal authorities and inhabitants, in order to involve them in
the conservation efforts and to monitor the status of the species.
'!
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The data used in this study were collected through the Information and Rescue
Network during the period 1991-1995. The operation of the network is based on the communication with its members (HSSPMS 1994, 1996), which is:
a) indirect: mail with all relevant authorities: port police, fishery and veterinary services,
fishing cooperatives, coastal municipalities, local inhabitants
b) direct: visiting areas, known to be important for the species, in order to sensitize the
local inhabitants and collect information about the past and present status of the monk
seal (229 different coastal locations were visited during the project).
It is important to mention that the Network is covering in space all the coastal and
island Greece, except the N. Sporades area and the Ionian islands were researchprojects,
monitoring the local monk seal populations, have been established for a number of years
(PANOUet ai. 1993, HSSPMS 1995)
Data relative to each monk seal sighting are received through mail and phone communication or are collected during the visits to the areas through interviews with locals
and fishermen. The information collected included, the time and location of observation,
description of the animal and its behavior, as well as, any other information related to the
400
incident. In addition infonnation relative to the existence and the location of seal shelters
within an area were collected during the interviews.
From the data collected, we considered a report ora sighting as reliable, and it was
included in this study, when the observer provided the exact date of the sighting, the exact
site of the observation and details about the description of the animal and its behavior. All
animals observed were classified in tenns of age-class in adults/juveniles and in pups,
based on the description of their size and of their external morphology. In certain cases
the observers in confinnation of the incidents provided photographs of the animals.
RESULTS
During the study period (1991-1995), 619 reports of seal sightings, which were considered as reliable, were collected. Of these, 540 referred to alive seal observations, while
79 were related to dead animals (see Androukaki et ai. in this issue). The majority of
reported sightings (487 cases) were related to adult animals/juveniles, and 67 to pups,
while in 65 casesthe age-class of the animals was not identified.
Even though, the information was collected after 1991, 54 casesreferred to sightings that took place in previous years (1983-1990). The flow of infonnation during the
project was contirnIously increasing with the highest number of reports (267 cases) collected during 1995. Professional fishermen were the main source of infonnation, since
they provided 226 reports, while port-police officers, local inhabitants, tourists, amateur
fishermen, divers, and others also reported sightings. The distribution of the reports
through the years is shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Sightingsreportedduring the studyperiod
ALIVE
DEAD
Before 1991
34
20
1991
25
5
1992
59
17
1993
75
12
1994
92
13
1995
255
12
The distribution of the seal sightings in Greece.is shown in Fig.1. Sightings have
been reported from 73 different locations within the country. Apart from the areasknown
for the existence of considerable monk seal population (N. Sporades and Ionian Sea), a
considerable number of sightings (>20) have been recorded in 6 more areas (Samos,
Fourni, Karpathos, Evia, 'Kythira and Nysiros). Overall, the island of Samos was the area
with the highest number (91 cases) of reported monk seal sightings.
The 67 sightings, which were related to monk seal pups, originate from 25 different coastal locations within the country. The distribution of thesereports is shown in Fig.2.
401
.;\:?;.,
1.10monk sealsightings
.~
p.
11.20monk seals;ghtings
21-50 monk seals;ghtings
~ 5 I monk sealsightin s
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Fig,! Distribution of monk sealsightingsin Greece
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Fig.2 Distributionof monksealpupsightingsin Greece
402
I pupsighting
2-4 pup sightings
~
...
" 5 pup sightings
In 11 of these areas, pups have been observed only once during the study period. In 14 different areas (Samos, Kythira, Evia, Milos, Kassos, coast of Pilion, Skiathos, Skopelos,
Agios Efstratios, Lesvos, Psara, Ikaria, Fourni, and Rhodes), either pups have been reported in different years, or multiple pups have been observed within a year. It should also be
mentioned that births of monk seal pups are being recorded consistently every year from
the areas of Northern Sporades and the Ionian islands (PANOUet aI. 1993, HSSPMS 1995)
DISCUSSION
Considering the overall distribution of the seal sightings reported (Fig.1), it is evident that the Mediterranean monk seal still remains widely distributed throughout Greece.
This is in general agreement with previous studies, which were conducted during the
1970's and 1980's (MARcHEssAux & DuGUY 1977, SERGEAN1'et aI. 1978, VAMVAKAS et
aI. 1978, VERRIOPOULOS1984, VERRIOPOULOS& KIORTSIS 1984, VLACHOUTSIKOU &
LAZARIDIS 1990). ThllS, it appears that during the last two decades no major changes in
the distribution of the species have occurred.
Even when we consider our results on a more regional scale, such as data from specific islands or sections of coastline, the frequency of sightings reported is in close agreement wi!h previou§ work, especially with the most recent (COUNCIL OF EUROPE 1991,
VLACHOUTSIKOU& LAZARIDIS 1990). However, there are a few differences between our
results and the relative importance other researchers attributed to specific areas. In particular, MARCHESSAUX& DUGUY (1977) and VAMVAKAS et at. (1978) considered that the
Korinthiakos Gulf area hosted a considerable monk seal population, while in our work
only one dead monk seal individual was reported. The same holds for the Gulf of
Messinia, where, even though the area was visited during this project, no evidence of seal
presence was reported. This is different to findings by V AMVAKASet aI. (1978), which considered the area as one of the most important monk seal habitats.
In addition, the sightings of newborn pups collected from various areas (Fig.2),
which are indeed closely matched with the areas with high frequency of seal sightings,
suggest that several breeding populations exist within the species distribution.
The high frequency of seal sightings in specific areas, in conjunction with the evidence of consistent breeding within them, suggest that apart from the areas of N. Sporades
(HSSPMS, 1995) and of the Ionian islands (VLACHOUTSIKOU& LAZARIDIS 1990, PANDOet
at. 1993), there may be important breeding monk seal populations in the areas of Samos
- Fourni, Kythira, Kassos - Karpathos, Pel ion - North Evia and Milos. The strategy for
the effective conservation of the Mediterranean
take the above findings under consideration.
monk seal in Greece. it is necessary to
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank all the peot>l.e
and authoritiesfrom coastalGreecethat participatedand contributed to the Network, and the Greek Ministries of Agriculture, Environmentand MerchantileMarine for
403
their support. This project was partially funded by the European CommissiQn, D.G. XI, and Contract No. 43010(92) 7829 and B4-3040/95/009/AO/D2.
REFERENCES
COUNCIL OF EUROPE 1992. Conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal
-
Technical and Scientific
aspects. Environmental Encounters No.13, Council of Europe Press.
HSSPMS (Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal) 1994. Continuation of the
Establishment of a Rescue Networkfor orphan, wounded and sick seals and gathering of seal observation from the whole of Greece - function of the seaL treatment and rehabilitation center in
Alonnissos. Final report for the European Commission Project 4-3010(92)7829, April 1992-March
1994.
HSSPMS 1995. Continuation of the Monitoring of the Monk Seals in the N4itional Marine Park of Northern
Sporades. Final Report for the European Commission Project 4-3010(92)7829.
HSSPMS 1996. Monk Seal Conservation in Greece. Part 1. Coastal and Island Greece. Final Report for the
European Commission Project B4-3040/95/qG9/ AO/D2.
IUCN/UNEP 1988. The Mediterranean monk seal. A status report. An action plan. Marine Mammal Action
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MARCHESSAUX D. & DUGUY R. 1977. Le phoque moine, M. monachus (Hermann, 1779) en Grece.
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D. & LOWRY L. 1993. Seals, Fur Seals, Sea Lions and Walrus. Status Survey and Conservation Plan.
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SERGEANT D., RONALD K., BOULVA J. & BERKES F. 1978. The recent status of Monachus monachus
the Mediterranean monk seal. In: Ronald K. & Duguy R. (eds.), The Mediterranean monk seal.
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Series 1. Pergamon Press.
UNEP 1994. PresBnt status and trend of the Mediterranean monk seal (M. 'monachus) populations. Meeting
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Mediterranean monk seal, Rabat, Tunis, 7-9 October 1994, UNEP/RAC/SPA, Document
UNEP(OCA)/MED/WG.87/3.
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of the First Ipternational Conference" Rhodes, Greece, 2-5 May 1978. UNEP Technical Series 1.
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Fund.
.
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10682 Athens, Greece
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