EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF GYAROS MPA

THE NEED

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is a threatened marine mammal and the only pinniped species found in the Mediterranean Sea. Greece is home to half of the world’s monk seals, and their largest breeding population can be found on Gyaros Island in the Cyclades.

The presence of this extremely important population was one of the primary reasons why WWF Greece and its partners focused their conservation efforts on the island, leading to the establishment of the Gyaros Marine Protected Area (MPA), officially designated by the Greek government in 2019.

THE PROGRAM

For the survival and recovery of the monk seal, WWF Greece continues to play an active role, through advocacy actions and interventions, to consolidate and secure the effective in situ management of Gyaros MPA.

The program includes a series of advocacy actions to ensure the long-term protection of the area by the state, with the ultimate goal of issuing the foreseen Presidential Decree. Actions will also aim at the promotion and integration of effective participatory processes in the governance and management system of Gyaros MPA.

Furthermore, the remote surveillance system of the MPA will be transferred to the Management Unit of the Central Aegean Protected Areas, supervised by NECCA. The system was initially installed and operated by WWF Greece, from 2015 to 2023, resulting in a significant reduction of illegal fishing in the area.

Finally, within the framework of the program, a plan for monitoring key biodiversity elements (fish populations, avifauna etc.) will be implemented, enabling the assessment of the status of the natural environment, as well as the timely identification of potential new threats.