Mediterranean monk seal (<scp><i>Monachus monachus</i></scp>) sightings in Israel 2009–2020: Extralimital records or signs of population expansion?

Roditi-Elasar, Mia; Bundone, Luigi; Goffman, Oz; Scheinin, Aviad; Kerem, D

doi:10.1111/mms.12734

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A current overview of the MMS presence in the Adriatic-Ionian region contextualizes MMS monitoring and protection on the need for a wide-region conservation approach [102]. MMSs are able to move for great distances [103], even over open water [104,105]. Our recent data need to be taken with the sightings reported over the same period from Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania [29,69,[106][107][108][109] and the known breeding sub-population in the Greek Ionian Islands, e.g., [12,18,85].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Rare and Endangered Species: When a Single Methodology Is Not Enough—The Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus along the Coast of Salento (South Apulia, Italy)

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several factors contributed, over time, to the Mediterranean monk seal’s sharp population decline. Despite the relative disappearance of documented breeding sub-populations, sightings have been collected, in recent decades, from most of the species’ former habitat. The conservation of this endangered marine mammal should also encompass those areas. We conducted our research along the coast of Salento (South Apulia, Italy) as a case study. To collect data on monk seal presence in the area, expected to be characterized by low numbers, we combined three different methodologies: a questionnaire to fishermen, interviews with witnesses of sightings, and a historical review of the species’ presence. The different methodologies allowed us to collect 11 records of recent sightings (after 2000) and 30 records of historical encounters (before 2000), highlighting that the species was already rare in Salento over the last century. Most of the historical information was concentrated between 1956 and 1988 (28 records), suggesting discontinuous occurrence in the area, possibly depending on the lack of monitoring efforts. Furthermore, a broad regional approach should be considered as a more effective path to aid the monk seal recovery, better comprehend the species’ abundance and movements, and eventually contribute to the overall health of ecosystems.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Rare and Endangered Species: When a Single Methodology Is Not Enough—The Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus along the Coast of Salento (South Apulia, Italy)

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There have also been some sporadic sightings of individual monk seals in Syria [8], Lebanon [9], Israel [10], Egypt [11], Libya [12], Spain [13], Italy [14], Croatia [15] and Albania [16]. More recently, sightings of monk seals have also been recorded along the Israeli coast [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Interactions between Small-Scale Fisheries and the Mediterranean Monk Seal Using Fishermen’s Ecological Knowledge

Papageorgiou¹,

Karonias²,

Eftychiou³

et al. 2023

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Interactions between fisheries and marine mammals have been well documented in almost all existing fishing gears around the world, often associated with detrimental consequences. Interactions of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) with small-scale fisheries have been previously documented in the Mediterranean; this is a problem that seems to be growing in recent years. The present study aims to understand for the first time the nature and extent of interactions between the Mediterranean monk seal and small-scale fisheries in the Republic of Cyprus. The data were collected by conducting in-person semi-structured interviews, between November and December 2020, with 90 fishermen operating from nine different ports, extending throughout the entire coastline of the Republic of Cyprus. The results revealed minimal interactions between the Mediterranean monk seals and small-scale fisheries. The findings indicate that interactions are more likely to occur at depths of less than 10 m, closer to the coast, with the use of trammel nets and gillnets, and during the spring and summer months. The encounter, depredation and incidental capture rates were calculated at 0.01 (0.95%), 0.005 (0.51%) and 0.0004 (0.04%) per fisher, respectively. Spatiotemporal closed areas are proposed as a potential solution to mitigate these interactions.

show abstract

“…Occasional monk seal sightings have been reported outside of the above-mentioned Mediterranean nuclei. Sightings have been increasing in frequency particularly in the Adriatic–Ionian Basin and Levantine and Tyrrhenian Seas [ 4 , 5 ]; however, an exhaustive assessment of the species in these areas was lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Documented Uses of Caves along the Coast of Albania by Mediterranean Monk Seals (Monachus monachus, Hermann 1779): Ecological and Conservation Inferences

Bundone

Hernández-Milian

Hysolakoj

et al. 2022

Animals

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Information on the habitat use of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) along the coast of Albania (Adriatic and Ionian Sea) has so far been limited to vague and generalised data. A survey conducted in the National Marine Park Karaburun-Sazan in the summer of 2019 identified two marine caves with morphological characteristics best suited for use by such species. The two caves were subsequently equipped with infrared camera traps in 2020. The recovery of a scat in one of the caves during the 2019 survey and the photographic material obtained confirmed the use of the cave. This research provides the first documentation of marine cave habitat use by the Mediterranean monk seal in Albania. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of specimens frequenting the area could not be performed due to the limited data obtained on seal presence along the Albanian coasts. Nevertheless, the retrieved information is relevant for Albania and for the species conservation. The collected scat was analysed for trophic and anthropogenic contamination data. Three species (gilthead sea bream, European sea bass, and garfish), as well as four anthropogenic items (including a piece of nylon net), were identified. The inferences resulting from the analyses of the data presented in this study provided additional information on the ecology of the species and its conservation priorities, which need to be contextualized at the Adriatic–Ionian regional scale.

show abstract

Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) sightings in Israel 2009–2020: Extralimital records or signs of population expansion?

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Investigating Rare and Endangered Species: When a Single Methodology Is Not Enough—The Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus along the Coast of Salento (South Apulia, Italy)

Investigating Rare and Endangered Species: When a Single Methodology Is Not Enough—The Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus along the Coast of Salento (South Apulia, Italy)

Understanding the Interactions between Small-Scale Fisheries and the Mediterranean Monk Seal Using Fishermen’s Ecological Knowledge

First Documented Uses of Caves along the Coast of Albania by Mediterranean Monk Seals (Monachus monachus, Hermann 1779): Ecological and Conservation Inferences

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About