From Field Science to Conservation Action:
Monitoring Monk Seal Habitat in Polyegos

Effective conservation begins with understanding the places that species depend on most.

As part of the Seal Greece initiative that the Monk Seal Alliance is co-leading in partnership with the Greek Ministry of Environment, MOm – the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal – recently carried out a field mission to the island of Polyegos, one of the Mediterranean monk seal's most important habitats.

The mission forms part of the wider efforts supported by the Monk Seal Alliance to strengthen habitat monitoring, improve scientific knowledge and promote evidence-based conservation across the Mediterranean.

Monitoring critical habitats

Polyegos is internationally recognised as one of Greece's most important marine protected areas.

Its extensive network of marine caves provides essential habitat for Mediterranean monk seals, particularly during breeding and pup-rearing periods.

Throughout the multi-day mission, MOm scientists conducted habitat assessments, inspected marine caves, deployed remote monitoring systems and documented environmental conditions that will contribute to long-term conservation planning.

The mission also examined patterns of marine traffic and recreational boating in order to better understand potential human pressures affecting sensitive coastal habitats.

Science supporting conservation

Field monitoring provides essential information for conservation management.

By collecting long-term ecological data, conservation teams can better understand habitat use, identify emerging threats and evaluate the effectiveness of protection measures over time.

These activities represent an important component of Seal Greece's broader objective to safeguard critical monk seal habitats while promoting responsible coexistence between nature and people.

Partnership in action

The Polyegos mission demonstrates the value of collaborative conservation.

Seal Greece brings together public authorities, conservation organisations and scientific experts to protect one of the Mediterranean's most endangered marine mammals through coordinated action, scientific research and public engagement.

By combining field expertise with strategic communication and awareness raising, the initiative seeks to ensure that conservation efforts extend beyond protected areas and reach the wider public.

Every field mission contributes not only to scientific understanding but also to building a stronger culture of marine conservation across Greece and the Mediterranean.