SAD-AFAG MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS in the CONSERVATION of

MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL & COASTAL HABITATS in TÜRKİYE

 

Establishment: 1987

Active : 37 years

Coverage Area: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean Coasts of Türkiye

 

1- Oil Spill Clean-up of Monk Seal Habitat at Çavuş Island, Bodrum (1997)

• • http://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard01/01infocu.htm
  • https://cemkirac.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/tc3bcbitak-bilim-teknik-nisan-1998-cokirac.pdf

 

2- Regulation of Ships Navigation in Favour of Marine Ecosystems Proposed and Approved (2001)

• • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/regulation-ships-navigation-ciesm-38.pdf
  • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/expost-yalikavak-case-study-report-undp-final.pdf

 

3- Küdür Peninsula Declared as Protected Area, Bodrum, SW Turkey (1999)

• • https://monachus-guardian.org/mguard03/03mednez.htm#kudur

 

4- Protection of natural coastal habitats – Datça Peninsula (2002)

• • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard10/1016mednew.htm#Turkey

 

5- Turkish Government Pledges 5 New Protected Areas for the Monk Seal (2004)

• • http://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard13/1316mednew.htm#Turkey

 

6- Long-term Efforts for the Conservation of Monk Seal in Turkey (1987-2022)

• • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard14/1421covsto.htm

 

7- Foça SEPA Zone Enlargement Proposed & Succeeded (2004)

• • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard14/1416mednew.htm#Turkey
  • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/news/pdf/070710sad_afag.pdf

 

8- NGOs unite against downgrading of natural areas – Alaçatı case (2006)

• • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard17/1716mednew.htm#Turkey

 

9- Patrolling and monitoring of Foça Special Protected Area (1992-2006)

• • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard18/1816mednew.htm#Turkey

 

10- Siren Rocks Closed to Tourist Activities In Order To Reduce Human Pressure in Favour of Monk Seals, Foça Islands, İzmir (1999)

• • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/kirac-and-guclusoy-2008-foca-and-monk-seals-monachus-monachus-sad-afag.pdf

 

11- Dive Times and Surface Interval Periods of free-ranging Monk seals discovered (2001)

• • https://monachus-guardian.org/mguard09/09scien2.htm

 

12- Foça Pilot Project managed by SAD-AFAG presented as one of the best examples of conservation efforts in Türkiye by the Turkish Ministry of Environment In Johannesburg, 2nd World Environment Summit (2002)

• • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/wwf-ref-letter-for-sad-afag-2003-lr.pdf

 

13- Rescue, Rehab and Release of Monk Seal Badem Back to Nature (2007)

• • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard19/1916mednew.htm#Turkey
  • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard20/2016mednew.htm#Turkey
  • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard21/2117mednew.htm#Turkey
  • https://monachus-guardian.org/mguard21/2117mednew.htm

 

14- Rescue and Unite of Monk Seal Pup with the Mother in Mersin, Aydıncık (2010)

• • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard26/2616mednew.htm#Turkey
  • https://sadafag.org/en/monk-seal-pup-rescued-in-aydincik-mersin-turkiye-2/

 

15- Rescue, Rehab and Release of monk seals Dilara & Tina back to nature (2011)

• • https://monachus-guardian.org/wordpress/2011/11/03/feeding-orphaned-monk-seals/
  • https://sadafag.org/en/two-new-orphan-pups-under-rehab-in-foca-turkiye/
  • https://sadafag.org/iki-akdeniz-foku-yavrusu-oksuz-bulundu-ve-bakima-altina-alindi/
  • https://monachus-guardian.org/wordpress/2011/01/19/foca-pups-feeding-video/

 

16- National Action Plan for the Conservation of Monk Seal Monachus monachus in Turkey; RAC/SPA and Turkish Ministry of Forest DG National Parks & Nature Protection and SAD-AFAG

• • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/0-akdeniz-fokunun-tr-korunmasi-uep-sad-afag-final.pdf

 

17- Turkey’s Initial No Fishing Zones Established in Bozyazi (Mersin), Mordoğan (İzmir) and Gökova Bay SEPA (Muğla) (1999, 2002, 2004 and 2010)

• • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/gokova-icmm-project-final-report-kirac-veryeri-c-sad-afag-2010.pdf
  • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/nfzgokovaicmm.jpg
  • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/monkseal-sightingsgokovaicmm.jpg
  • https://cemkirac.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/kay-8-kongre-yayin_2009_2010_gokova_icmm-kirac-ve-ark.pdf

 

18- Habitat Destruction in Karaburun Peninsula Avoided by Creating an Alternative Proposal

• • https://sadafag.org/en/assessment-of-karaburun-passenger-port-construction/#more-1160

 

19- Prevention of Disturbance to Monk Seals by Cave Divers (1991 and 2016)

• • https://sadafag.org/en/cave-diving-and-encounter-with-mediterranean-monk-seal-2/
  • https://sadafag.org/en/regulation-amended-on-disturbance-of-monk-seals-in-sea-caves-along-turkish-coasts/
  • https://monachus-guardian.org/wordpress/2016/08/26/amendment-of-the-regulation-on-disturbance-of-monk-seals-in-sea-caves-in-turkey/
  • https://sadafag.org/en/cave-diving-and-encounter-with-mediterranean-monk-seal-2/

 

20- Defence of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) Along Turkish Coasts

• • 20 sensitive coastal areas protected out of total 28 areas Targeted in Defence KBA Project funded by MAVA Foundation (2015-2019)
  • https://sadafag.org/en/defence-kba-project-completed/
  • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/oda-savun-tr-defence-kba-tr-sad-web-r3-lr.pdf

 

21- AFBİKA Monk Seal Information and Rescue Network (2003-….)

• • https://sadafag.org/en/mediterranean-monk-seal/mediterranean-monk-seal-observation/#more-4599
  • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/sad-afag-monk-seal-sighting-interaction-form-6-4.pdf
  • https://cemkirac.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/info_tech_for_end_mm-afbika-ciesm-2008-1.pdf
  • https://cemkirac.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/kay-kongre-6_2006-akdeniz_foku_bilgi_ve_kurtarma_agi_mayis.pdf

 

22- SAD-AFAG has taken active stakeholder role in designing and developing “Foça SEPA Management Plan” under the coordination of DG TVK (Ministry of Environment) in 2017.

• https://cemkirac.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/foca_yp_mart_20171-tvkgm.pdf

 

23- Membership to Committee on Marine Mammals Bycatch and Consultancy and Reporting on Monk Seal Bycatch to DG Fisheries & Aqua Products (DG BSGM) (2020-….)

• • https://sadafag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/monk-seal-bycatch-along-turkish-coasts-sad-afag-april-2020.pdf
  • https://www.monachus-guardian.org/mguard25/2516mednew.htm#Turkey

 

24- Membership to the Scientific Committee of the Ministry of Environment & Urbanization. Consultancy and Reporting to the Minister (DG TVK) (2020-….)

 

25- Membership to National Monk Seal Committee. Consultancy and Reporting on the Status and Threats on Monk Seals in Turkish Waters to DG Nature Protection & National Parks (DG DKMP) (1991-….)

 

26- Cataloging Identified Monk Seals in Turkey (1987-2021)

• • Monk Seal Cataloging TR SAD-AFAG

 

27- Monk Seals in Marmara Sea Discovered and Coal Thermal Power Plant Project Stopped (2018)

• • https://monachus-guardian.org/wordpress/2018/09/16/the-sea-of-marmara-is-home-to-more-monk-seals-than-expected/
  • The Last Coast; Karabiga

 

28- Cave Monitoring and Monk Seal Identification Completed in İzmir Bay and Fethiye Bay (2019-2020)

• • https://sadafag.org/en/preliminary-results-19-20/

 

29- SAD-AFAG Given Place in the Environmental History Mile-stones by National Geographic Turkey (2020)

• • https://sadafag.org/en/sad-afag-listed-in-worlds-last-50-year/

 

30- Nature Conservation & Advocacy 101 Lecture designed and implemented in collaboration among Nature Society DD and SAD (2021)

• • https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ29sg4gPUj/

 

31- Numerous Scientific and Popular Articles published and disseminated (1988-2021)

• • https://sadafag.org/en/publications/

 

32- Turkish Post Department Collaborated with SAD-AFAG to Participate Europa Wildlife Philately 2021 Using Monk Seal Figure

• • PTT Monk Seal Stamp in Europa Wildlife Philately Series

 

33- Active Protection of Monk Seal Caves Against Illegal Intruders in Kaş and Demre Regions, Antalya, Türkiye

• • Blue Cave Protection in Kaş, Antalya, TR
  • Korsan Cave Protection in Demre, Antalya, TR
  • Protecting the Mediterranean Monk Seal; The Last Barricade (in Turkish in MAGMA Monthly Geography Magazine)

 

  AWARDS RECEIVED by SAD-AFAG on the CONSERVATION of MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEALS & ITS PRISTINE HABITATS

1. 1997 Oil Pollution Clean-Up Operation to Save Monk Seal Habitats in Gümüşlük, Bodrum, SW Turkey by Henry Ford Eurpean Conservation Awards – National Award 2nd Prize to SAD-AFAG
2. 1998 Foça Pilot Project, Foça, İzmir, Western TR by Henry Ford Eurpean Conservation Awards – National Award 1st Prize to SAD-AFAG and the People of Foça
3. 1998 Foça Pilot Project, Foça, İzmir, Western TR by Henry Ford Eurpean Conservation Awards – Grand Prix European Award 1st Prize to SAD-AFAG and the People of Foça
4. 2003 Successful Cooperation with the WWF Mediterranean Program Office – Reference Letter
5. 2007 Marine and Coastal Conservation Actions by Lord Baden Foundation – Nature Conservation Award
6. 2008 Rescue and Rehabilitation of Orphan Monk Seal “Badem” by WWF Turkey – Panda National Award
7. 2008 Rescue and Rehabilitation of Monk Seal “Badem” by Lloyd’s List and Turkish Shipping Industry – Appreciation Award
8. 2019-2020 Effective Project Implementation “Defence and Protection of Key Biodiversity Areas Along Turkish Coasts” by UNDP GEF-SGP Annual Monitoring Report 2019-2020 (page 9)