The recent status of Monachus monachus, the Mediterranean monk seal

Mediterranean monk seals Monachus monachus (Hermann 1779) still live widely in their primaeval range around the Mediterranean and adjacent northeast Atlantic seas, but are now confined chiefly to remote cliffbound coasts and islets. Greatest numbers occur in the eastern Aegean sea. Total numbers are probably between 500 and 1000 with the population still declining. Neonates measure about 0·8 m length and weigh about 20 kg, while adults reach extreme sizes of 3m and 400 kg. The wide food spectrum of fish and cephalopods, probably reaching 5% of body weight per day as an optimum intake for adults, produces competition with fishermen. Seals damage nets and are shot, and are also caught inadvertently in various types of nets. Births extend from May to November with a peak in September. Human disturbance of reproductive sites at all seasons is believed to be seriously reducing the reproductive rate of monk seals. Efficient reproduction probably requires beaches as well as the caves mostly used at present. Individual travel can be several hundred kilometres and widespread similarity of colour patterns suggests that gene flow has not been interrupted in the past. A network of reserves is needed in existing and past habitat, which could be of value also to rare cliff-nesting sea birds. These core reserves should be totally free of human disturbance, but buffer zones are envisaged surrounding them, which could be used for viewing the animals.