Seals in Turkey: Where Mediterranean Monk Seals Still Survive

Atmoswire Editorial October 26, 2026 6 min read

Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean coasts shelter one of the last populations of the Mediterranean monk seal. Here is where they live, what threatens them, and how protection works.

Turkey is one of the few countries where the Mediterranean monk seal (*Monachus monachus*) still lives in the wild. The species is among the rarest marine mammals in Europe. Along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey, small groups of seals rest and give birth in remote sea caves. Their survival depends on how these coasts are managed.

> Key Takeaway: Seals in Turkey are Mediterranean monk seals, a rare species that lives in coastal sea caves along the Aegean and Mediterranean shores. IUCN improved its status from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2023, but cave disturbance, coastal development and fishing nets remain the main threats.

Are There Seals in Turkey?

Yes. The Mediterranean monk seal is the only seal species that lives in Turkish waters. It is a large, brown-to-grey seal that can grow to more than two metres. Unlike most seals, it does not use open beaches. It hides in sea caves with underwater entrances, which protect it from people.

Turkey and Greece together hold the largest part of the eastern Mediterranean population. Smaller groups also live in the Atlantic, around Madeira and the Cabo Blanco coast of West Africa.

Where Do Monk Seals Live in Turkey?

Monk seals use rocky, quiet coastlines with many caves. In Turkey, seals have been recorded in these areas:

Foça (İzmir): Foça is a Special Environmental Protection Area. The town's name is linked to the Greek word for seal, and the seal is a local symbol.

Karaburun peninsula and the northern Aegean: Rocky shores with caves used for resting.

Gökçeada: The island has marine protection zones on its coast.

The Lycian coast, including Kaş: Steep cliffs and sea caves along the Antalya coast.

The eastern Mediterranean coast: Sightings are reported from parts of Mersin.

Why Sea Caves Matter

Females give birth inside caves, usually on a small inner beach or rock shelf. A disturbed cave can make a mother leave her pup. For this reason, conservation work in Turkey focuses on finding, mapping and protecting active caves.

What Changed in the Species' Status?

The IUCN Red List classified the species as Critically Endangered for many years. In 2015 it moved to Endangered. In 2023 IUCN moved it to Vulnerable, because protection in Greece, Turkey and the Atlantic sites helped some populations grow.

This is a real improvement, but it is not recovery. The total population is still small. A single disease outbreak or a bad breeding season can affect a whole local group.

What Threatens Seals in Turkey?

According to Atmoswire's review of conservation reports, four threats appear again and again:

1. Coastal development: New hotels, roads and marinas destroy or open up caves that seals need.

2. Cave disturbance: Tour boats, swimmers and divers that enter caves can scare seals away.

3. Fishing nets: Seals can drown in nets. Some fishers also see seals as competitors and harm them.

4. Pollution and overfishing: Fewer fish means less food, and polluted water affects health.

Short-Term Effects

When a cave is disturbed during the breeding season, pups can die. Losses of only a few animals matter in a population this small.

Long-Term Effects

If seals lose their caves along a whole stretch of coast, they may disappear from that area. This is how the species vanished from much of the Mediterranean in the twentieth century.

Who Protects Monk Seals in Turkey?

The Underwater Research Society – Mediterranean Seal Research Group (SAD-AFAG) has studied monk seals in Turkey for decades. Its work includes cave surveys, seal monitoring and education for fishers and local people. Protected areas such as Foça and Gökçeada give legal protection to parts of the coast. The seal is also protected under Turkish law and the Bern Convention.

Conservation groups point to one simple rule for visitors: do not enter sea caves, and keep distance from any seal you see.

What Should You Do If You See a Seal?

Stay at least 50 metres away and stay quiet.

Do not feed, touch or swim toward the animal.

Do not use drones near seals or caves.

Report the sighting to a local conservation group with the date, place and a photo if possible.

How Does This Fit Turkey's Wider Wildlife Story?

Turkey has already lost large animals such as the Anatolian leopard and the Asiatic lion. The monk seal shows a different path: a species that was close to loss but survives because of protection. Read more in The Silent Loss: Extinct Animals in Anatolia and Why the Anatolian Leopard Vanished. Another Turkish survivor is the northern bald ibis of Birecik.

Conclusion

Seals in Turkey are a small but important population of the Mediterranean monk seal. The 2023 IUCN status change shows that protection works. But the future of the species in Turkey depends on quiet caves, safe fishing practices and careful coastal planning. Follow the Endangered Wildlife topic for new updates.