In a landmark victory for marine conservation, the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades has witnessed a historic surge in the population of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). According to the latest data from the Hellenic Agency for Natural Environment and Climate Change (OFYPEKA), 2026 has become a record-breaking year for the species.
Field researchers have photo-identified 21 newborns across the islet of Piperi—the strictly protected core of the park—and southeastern Skopelos. This figure is not merely a “good year”; it is a statistical anomaly that far exceeds the average annual count recorded over nearly four decades of monitoring.
Greece: The Last Stronghold of the Mediterranean monk seal
The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals. In the early 1990s, the species was teetering on the brink of extinction with a global population of fewer than 600 individuals. Today, Greece serves as the species’ primary sanctuary, hosting roughly half of the global population. This gives Greece a unique and profound responsibility: the survival of the species literally depends on the health of Greek waters.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, OFYPEKA CEO Kostas Triantis emphasized that this population boom is no accident. It is the culmination of over 30 years of:
- Persistent Scientific Monitoring: Tracking individual seals to understand their breeding habits.
- Effective Management: Enforcing strict “no-entry” zones in critical habitats like Piperi.
- Broad Collaborations: A unified front between public authorities, scientific bodies, environmental NGOs like MOm, and—crucially—local fishing communities.
A blueprint for the future
The success in Alonissos is now serving as the “gold standard” for Greek conservation. “Protecting the natural environment requires planning, data, and persistence,” Triantis noted.
OFYPEKA intends to replicate this successful model in the two newly established marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas, ensuring that the “Ithaka” of the Mediterranean monk seal remains a safe and thriving home for generations to come.
Related: Five Remarkable Marine Animals of Greece (And Where to Find Them)