HARUN GÜÇLÜSOY, Cem O. KIRAÇ, N. Ozan VERYERİ, Yalçın SAVAŞ

Status of the Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) in the coastal waters of Turkey

Bu çalışmada, Akdeniz keşiş foklarının Türkiye kıyılarındaki dağılımı, durumu, yaşam alanları ve tür üzerindeki tehditler incelenmiştir. Çalışmanın sonuçları, yerel balıkçılar ile gerçekleştirilen anket çalışmaları ve karadan ve denizden potansiyel fok mağaralarının tespiti için arazi seferleri sonucunda elde edilmiştir. Makalede 1994 ve 1998 yılları arasında toplanmış olan fok görme verileri kullanılmıştır. Çalışma sırasında elde edilen veriler ışığında türün Türkiye kıyılarında parçalı bir dağılım gösterdiği ortaya çıkmış ve yaklaşık 104 fok bireyinin yaşadığı tahmin edilmiştir. 1994 ve 2002 yılları arasında 17 yavrulama ve 22 ölü fok kaydı elde edilmiştir. Türün üzerindeki ana tehditler, yaşam alanlarının tahribatı, kasti öldürmeler, balıkçı ağlarına takılma, balık stoklarında aşırı ve yasadışı avcılık sonucunda azalma olarak tespit edilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

ölüm oranı, habitatlar, Monachus, Akdeniz, populasyon tahmini, Türkiye

Akdeniz keşiş foku, Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779)’un Türkiye kıyılarındaki durumu

In this study, the distribution, status, habitats and threats upon the monk seals along the Turkish coasts were examined. The results were obtained through surveys based mainly on the information gathered from local fishermen and expeditions, both from land and sea, to explore coastlines offering potential seal caves. Sightings data collected between 1994 and 1998 were used in this paper. The data obtained during the study reveals a discontinuous distribution pattern of Monachus monachus along Turkish coasts. The number of seals living in the studied area was estimated to be approximately 104. 17 pupping and 22 dead seal records were obtained between 1994 and 2002. The main threats to M. monachus were found to be habitat destruction, deliberate killing, entanglement in fishing gear, overfishing and illegal fishing resulting in the depletion of fish stocks.

Keywords:

mortality, habitats, Monachus, Mediterranean Sea, population forecasts, Turkey,

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