New monitoring confirms regular breeding of the Mediterranean monk seal in Northern Cyprus

Beton, Damla; Broderick, Annette C.; Godley, Brendan J.; Kolaç, Emre; Ok, Meltem; Snape, Robin

doi:10.1017/s0030605320000848

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The commercial fishing fleet of Northern Cyprus includes 300-400 SSF vessels [Northern Cyprus Department of Animal Husbandry (DAH)], predominantly fishing with gill nets, trammel nets and longlines. Interactions with marine vertebrate species, including elasmobranchs, marine turtles, Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus, Hermann 1779) and dolphins are common, with an estimated 1,000 marine turtles caught in this fishery each year (Snape et al, 2013;Snape et al, 2018b;Beton et al, 2021). Trawl fishing is not permitted and there are no industrialised longline vessels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and distribution of elasmobranchs in the coastal waters of Cyprus: using bycatch data to inform management and conservation

O’Keefe,

Bengil,

Palmer

et al. 2023

Front. Mar. Sci.

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IntroductionLoss of biodiversity in marine ecosystems is a globally acknowledged problem. To address this and avoid extinctions, improved conservation is required to protect and restore our oceans. Elasmobranch species are considered the second most threatened vertebrate lineage, with overfishing considered the most important driver of declines. The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for elasmobranchs, with the eastern basin considered a data-poor area. MethodsThis study sought to address that deficiency, using bycatch data to assess the diversity and distribution of elasmobranch species caught as a result of commercial fishing in Northern Cyprus from 2018 to 2022. ResultsThirty-six elasmobranch species were recorded, including 24 new records for Northern Cyprus, representing 41% of all species recorded in the Mediterranean. Of these 36 species, 61% are listed on the IUCN Red List as globally threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable). Of the species recorded, 71% of sharks (n=17), and 53% of batoids (skates and rays; n=19) are listed as threatened. We present data on the distribution of captures and size classes and infer life stage from these data. DiscussionOur study demonstrates the importance of the coastal waters of Cyprus for multiple life stages of a broad range of elasmobranch species. As most elasmobranchs caught are retained for bait, subsistence or trade, our study has highlighted the need to update the regulations for this small-scale fishery, and led to a recent amendment to prohibit trade in all species listed under the Barcelona Convention.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and distribution of elasmobranchs in the coastal waters of Cyprus: using bycatch data to inform management and conservation

O’Keefe,

Bengil,

Palmer

et al. 2023

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…Although the range of the monk seal once encompassed the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the eastern Atlantic (including mainland Africa and the oceanic island groups of Macaronesia), currently only 3 isolated subpopulations are known to remain (González 2015, Karamanlidis et al 2016). In the eastern Mediterranean, some 350−450 seals are widely dispersed among islands and mainland coasts, primarily in Greece and Turkey, but also in several other countries (Gucu et al 2009, Karamanlidis & Dendrinos 2015, Karamanlidis et al 2019, Nicolaou et al 2019, Fioravanti et al 2020, Beton et al 2021). In the eastern Atlantic, 2 highly localized subpopulations persist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-specific survival and reproductive rates of Mediterranean monk seals at the Cabo Blanco Peninsula, West Africa

Larrinoa

Baker

Cedenilla

et al. 2021

Endang. Species. Res.

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We provide the first complete set of survival rate estimates for the Endangered Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus from birth into adulthood, as well as the first agespecific reproductive rates for the species. From 2002 to 2016, we obtained individual seal live encounter data through non-invasive monitoring techniques that were analyzed to estimate vital rates of Mediterranean monk seals of the Cabo Blanco (Western Sahara/Mauritania) population. From birth to age 2 mo, when pups molt, survival averaged 0.59, ranging from 0.41 to 0.74 among cohorts. From birth to 1 yr and from 1 to 2 yr, median estimated survival rates were 0.46 and 0.75, respectively. Beyond 2 yr, survival estimates differed by sex: 0.94 for males and 0.97 for females. From 2005 to 2016, we estimated a mean gross reproductive rate of 0.71. The youngest parturient females were 3 yr old. Fitted age-specific reproductive rates increased beginning at age 3 yr and exceeded 0.80 from age 6 to 17 yr. Despite low survival during the first 2 mo of life, the aggregate vital rates of the population are favorable for growth; a Leslie matrix containing our survival and fecundity estimates yielded an intrinsic growth rate of 1.058. Increasing abundance and favorable vital rates are a testament to the efficacy of the many measures taken to promote the conservation of this population.

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“…The largest subpopulation in the eastern Mediterranean comprises 350–450 individuals (Karamanlidis et al, 2019). Approximately 100 of these are in the coastal waters of Turkey (Güçlüsoy et al, 2004), 14 in north-west and southern Cyprus (Nicolaou et al, 2019) and seven in northern Cyprus (Beton et al, 2021). The species is subject to multiple anthropogenic threats, including deliberate killings and the entanglement of subadults in fishing nets.…”

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A novel approach for Mediterranean monk seal conservation: an artificial ledge in a marine cave

Saydam¹,

Güçlüsoy

Kızılkaya³

2022

Oryx

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The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus, categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, comprises 600–700 individuals in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean. Habitat degradation is a severe threat to the species. In 2016 and 2017, coastline surveys were conducted in Gökova Bay, south-west Turkey, to identify suitable monk seal habitat. A significant factor hindering recovery of the monk seal population of this Turkish coast and the nearby Greek islands is the limited number of marine caves suitable for resting and/or pupping. We identified four caves as possible monk seal resting and pupping caves. An additional cave with all essential features for seal usage except a ledge was also identified. An artificial ledge was built in this cave in July 2019 and seal usage was monitored by camera trap until September 2020. A total of 405 camera-trap events were analysed to examine presence of any monk seals on the ledge, and to understand the purpose (resting and/or pupping), frequency of use, sex and age group of any individuals using the cave. One juvenile used the cave four times for resting (420 minutes in total), predominantly nocturnally. This is the first construction of a dry ledge in a cave of this kind for monk seals. The camera recordings suggest this approach could provide habitat for this species in areas where there is insufficient dry protected area on land.

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New monitoring confirms regular breeding of the Mediterranean monk seal in Northern Cyprus

Cited by 5 publications

References 14 publications

Diversity and distribution of elasmobranchs in the coastal waters of Cyprus: using bycatch data to inform management and conservation

Diversity and distribution of elasmobranchs in the coastal waters of Cyprus: using bycatch data to inform management and conservation

Age-specific survival and reproductive rates of Mediterranean monk seals at the Cabo Blanco Peninsula, West Africa

A novel approach for Mediterranean monk seal conservation: an artificial ledge in a marine cave

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