Download National Marine Park of Allonisos

National Marine Park
of Alonisos

The Mediterranean monk
seal (Monachus monachus) is
one of the world’s most
endangered marine mammals,
with fewer than 600 individuals
currently surviving.
 This species of monk seal, one
of the largest seals in the
world, grows from
approximately 80cm long at
birth up to nearly 2.5m as
adults.
 They are thought to live up to
45 years old; the average life
span is thought to be 20 to 25
years old.
 It is present in parts of the
Mediterranean Sea and the
Eastern Atlantic Ocean waters
around the Tropic of Cancer as
well.
History and exploitation
 In ancient Greece, monk seals were placed under the protection of
Poseidon and Apollo because they showed a great love for sea and
sun.
 One of the first coins, minted around 500 BC, depicted the head of
a monk seal, and the creatures were immortalized in the writings of
Homer, Plutarch and Aristotle. To fishermen and seafarers, catching
sight of the animals frolicking in the waves or loafing on the beaches
was considered to be an omen of good fortune.
 Humans hunted Mediterranean monk seals for the basic necessities
of their own survival – fur, oil, meat, medicines – but in early
antiquity did not kill them in large enough numbers to endanger their
existence as a species.
The main threats against the Mediterranean monk seal include:
 habitat deterioration and loss by coastal development, including
disturbance by tourism and pleasure boating;
 deliberate killing by fishermen and fish farm operators, who
consider the animal a pest that damages their nets and ‘steals’ their
fish, particularly in depleted coastal fishing grounds;
 accidental entanglement in fishing gear leading to death by
drowning;
 decreased food availability due to over-fishing pressures;
 stochastic events, such as disease outbreaks.
• The National Marine Park of Alonnisos Northern
Sporades was the first designated Marine Park in the
country and is currently the largest (approximately 2.260
Km2 ) marine protected area in Europe .
Marine Park’s Objective
• The basic objective of the Management Body's
Integrated Management of the NMPANS is to combine
the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of
natural ecosystems with an increasing economic
development and social cohesion under the
principles of sustainable development.
Marine Park Presentation:
• George Stavrou
• Comenius Team