Interactions with humans Monk seal

1 interactions humans

1.1 hawaii

1.1.1 threats
1.1.2 conservation


1.2 mediterranean

1.2.1 threats
1.2.2 conservation


1.3 caribbean

interactions humans
hawaii

a hawaiian monk seal sleeping on beach in kauai


threats

in nineteenth century, many seals killed whalers , sealers meat, oil , skin. u.s. military forces hunted them during world war ii, while occupying laysan island , midway island. human disturbances have had immense effects on populations of hawaiian monk seal. monk seals tend avoid beaches disturbed; after continual disturbance seal may abandon beach, reducing habitat size, subsequently limiting population growth. instance, large beach crowds , beach structures limit seal’s habitat. wwii military bases in northwestern islands closed, minimal human activities can enough disturb species. current population around 1,400 individuals.

the hawaiian monk seal has lowest level of genetic variability among 18 pinniped species, allegedly due population bottleneck caused intense hunting in 19th century. limited genetic variability reduces species s ability adapt environmental pressures , limits natural selection increasing risk of extinction. given monk seal s small population, effects of disease disastrous.

entanglement can result in mortality because when seals trapped in marine debris such fishing nets cannot maneuver or reach surface breathe. marine fisheries can potentially interact monk seals via direct , indirect relationships. directly seal can become snared fishing equipment, entangled in discarded debris, , feed on fish refuse. international law prohibits intentional discarding of debris ships @ sea. monk seals have 1 of highest documented rates of entanglement of pinniped species.

conservation

in 1909, theodore roosevelt created hawaiian islands national wildlife refuge (hinwr), under jurisdiction of u.s. fish , wildlife service (usfws). throughout 1980s, national marine fisheries service completed various versions of environmental impact statement designated northwest hawaiian islands critical habitat hawaiian monk seal. designation prohibited lobster fishing in northwest hawaiian islands , laysan island. in 2006, presidential proclamation established papahanaumokuakea marine national monument, incorporated northwestern hawaiian islands coral reef ecosystem reserve, midway atoll national wildlife refuge, hawaiian islands national wildlife refuge, , battle of midway national memorial, creating largest marine protected area in world , affording hawaiian monk seal further protection.

noaa cultivated network of volunteers protect seals while bask or bear , nurse young. noaa funding considerable research on seal population dynamics , health in conjunction marine mammal center. noaa, several programs , networks formed in order monk seal. community programs such piro have helped improve community standards hawaiian monk seal. program creates networks native hawaiians on island network more people in fight conservation of seals. marine mammal response network (mmrn) partnered noaa , several other government agencies deal land , marine wildlife.

to raise awareness of species plight, on june 11, 2008, state law designated hawaiian monk seal hawaii s official state mammal.

mediterranean

one of first sightings of monk seal in strait of gibraltar, 2012


threats

several causes provoked dramatic population decrease on time: on 1 hand, commercial hunting (especially during roman empire , middle ages) and, during 20th century, eradication fishermen, used consider pest due damage seal causes fishing nets when preys on fish caught in them; and, on other hand, coastal urbanization , pollution. currently, entire population estimated less 600 individuals scattered throughout wide distribution range, qualifies species endangered. current sparse population 1 more serious threat species, has 2 key sites can deemed viable. 1 aegean sea (250–300 animals in greece, largest concentration of animals in gyaros island, , 100 in turkey); other important subpopulation western saharan portion of cabo blanco (around 200 individuals may support small, growing, nucleus in desertas islands – approximately 20 individuals). there may individuals using coastal areas among other parts of western sahara, such in cintra bay. these 2 key sites virtually in extreme opposites of species distribution range, makes natural population interchange between them impossible. other remaining subpopulations composed of less 50 mature individuals, many of them being loose groups of extremely reduced size – less 5 individuals. consequently, there low genetic variability.

a colony of mediterranean monk seals on cabo blanco, 1945

cabo blanco, in atlantic ocean, largest surviving single population of species, , remaining site still seems preserve colony structure. in summer of 1997, disease killed more 200 animals (two-thirds of population) within 2 months, extremely compromising species viable population. while opinions on precise causes of epidemic remain divided, cause morbilivirus or toxic algae bloom.

conservation

in aegean sea, greece has allocated large area preservation of mediterranean monk seal , habitat. greek alonissos marine park, extends around northern sporades islands, main action ground of greek mom organisation. mom involved in raising awareness in general public, fundraising helping of monk seal preservation cause, in greece , wherever needed. greece investigating possibility of declaring monk seal breeding site national park, , has integrated sites in natura 2000 protection scheme. legislation in greece strict towards seal hunting, , in general, public aware , supportive of effort preservation of mediterranean monk seal.

one of largest groups among foundations concentrating efforts towards preservation of mediterranean monk seal mediterranean seal research group (akdeniz foklarını araştırma grubu) operating under underwater research foundation (sualtı araştırmaları derneği) in turkey (also known sad-afag). group has taken initiative in joint preservation efforts foça municipal officials, phone, fax, , email hotlines sightings.

caribbean

caribbean monk seal in new york aquarium, 1910

the extinction of caribbean monk seal triggered overhunting in eighteenth , nineteenth centuries obtain oil held within blubber, fueled large demand seal products. 1688, sugar plantation owners sent out hunting parties kill hundreds of seals every night blubber oil lubricate machinery. caribbean monk seals’ docile nature , lack of instinctive fear of humans made easy target, , hunting ended (in 1850s) because population low commercial use. overfishing of reefs sustained caribbean monk seal population contributed extinction. fish stock decline in caribbean starved remaining populations. little done protect caribbean monk seal; time placed on endangered species list in 1967, extinct.