Record 21 Pups Documented in Alonissos Marine Park During 2025 Monk Seal Breeding Season

The National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, a key sanctuary for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (*Monachus monachus*), has confirmed a significant conservation outcome following its 2025 breeding season. Preliminary photo-identification data verified the presence of 21 newborn Mediterranean monk seals, establishing a record count that surpasses the average annual figure recorded over the thirty-seven years of monitoring within the Park.

The majority of these recent births were concentrated near the strictly protected Piperi islet, which functions as a natural refuge for the species. This positive trend is attributed to the systematic, long-term management and monitoring protocols implemented by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA). NECCA, in partnership with groups such as the Monk Seal Alliance, has advanced conservation through initiatives like SEAL GREECE, which promotes sustainable coexistence between human activity and the seals.

The Mediterranean monk seal is globally rare, with the IUCN currently classifying its status as Vulnerable, following a previous classification of Endangered. Current global population estimates range between 850 and 1,000 individuals, with approximately half of that population residing in Greek waters. The Northern Sporades region, which includes the National Marine Park of Alonissos, is a major concentration area, accounting for an estimated minimum of 60 animals, representing over 9% of the global population.

Historically, human persecution drove these seals from open, sandy beaches to remote, inaccessible sea caves for breeding. The success observed in the Alonissos Park is further evidenced by the fact that for the fourth consecutive year, females are returning to open beaches to give birth, a behavioral shift suggesting an increased sense of security within the protected zone established by Presidential Decree in 1992 and updated in 2003.

Despite this local success, conservationists stress the need for continued vigilance against persistent threats across the species' range, including habitat degradation, pollution, and negative interactions with fisheries, such as entanglement. Bycatch mortality has been a noted factor, accounting for 24% of total deaths in the Ionian Sea over a 25-year period in historical data. The management model within the Park, which incorporates 24/7 patrolling and promotion of eco-friendly tourism, is now being extended to neighboring areas like Skopelos, Skiathos, Pelion, and Evia to secure broader regional protection.

The commitment to the species is financially supported by the Monk Seal Alliance, which has pledged at least €3 million in funding for the 2025–2027 period, building upon the €4 million invested between 2020 and 2024 to support projects across monk seal habitats.