Scaling up the Conservation of Mediterranean Monk Seal in Turkey

Fondation Segré is a member of the Monk Seal Alliance since 2019, and it is under this partnership that it is contributing to the conservation of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal along Turkey’s coastline. Led by a consortium of two very experienced organizations, the Underwater Research Society – Mediterranean Seal Research Group (SAD-AFAG) and the Institute of Marine Sciences at the Middle East Technical University (METU-IMS) this project aims to protect the monk seal’s habitat at key sites in the Marmara and Aegean Sea and along the Eastern Mediterranean Coast.

The species is mostly impacted by habitat degradation and disturbance from human activities and to a lesser extent by accidental bycatch in fisheries and, very rarely, by deliberate killing. Key project activities include identifying and monitoring essential habitats such as resting and breeding caves, assessing population structure and human-induced threats and removing debris and litter from key sites. The initiative also tackles issues like habitat degradation and accidental bycatch, working to mitigate these impacts through advocacy and community engagement, particularly in regions where local economies rely on marine resources.