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327:, November 2005. The plan provides a new focus for monk seal conservation by specifying the commitment of the countries in the species’ distribution range. It lays down the procedures to implement coordinated actions among the signatories, providing a means to combine programmes initiated by different national, local and private organizations. The immediate priority is to arrest the decline of the population and then move to promote the species’ recovery. One of the major features of the plan is the proposal to create a network of Special Areas of Conservation for the Monk Seal (SACMS) to help restore populations.
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Spain, with technical support provided by the
Spanish NGO FundaciĂłn CBD-Habitat. A meeting of the Working Group in Mauritania in November 2009 agreed some necessary actions, including the identification of relevant competent authorities for the implementation of the MoU, sources of technical advice and options for funding.
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Facilitate through the
Atlantic Monk Seal Working Group, the rapid exchange of scientific, technical and legal information necessary to coordinate conservation measures and to cooperate with recognized experts and scientist, other international organizations and other range states so as to facilitate
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In 2009 an event of great symbolic and conservation importance took place in the Cabo Blanco
Mediterranean Mons seal colony. A pup was born on an open beach. The newborn pup was discovered by the reserve’s monk seal patrol of the CBD-Habitat Foundation. It is the first record of such an event since
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in the
Madeira archipelago. This reserve was crucial in increasing the number of monk seals from 6–8 individuals in the 1980s to 25–30 in 2009. Furthermore, the establishment of a no-fishing zone and the elimination of disturbances in the vicinity of breeding grounds have helped raise the number of
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Recognizing that the
Mediterranean monk seal is one of the most threatened animals in the world and understanding that the species performs long movements, which makes the survival of the individuals dependent upon the conservation of habitats in the coastal and marine area of all the range states,
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A Monk Seal
Working Group composed of representatives of the four signatory states has been operational since the inception of the MoU and oversees and guides activities undertaken under the MoU and Action Plan. The operation of the Working Group has been financially supported by the Government of
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179:) is included in both Appendix I and II of CMS, thus highlighting the need for concerted action and international cooperation among the range states and noting the important ecological role the monk seal plays, an Article IV agreement was signed in
256:. It is estimated that only 500 specimens remain in the wild. The main threats to the seals are entanglement and mortality in fishing gear, overfishing and direct persecution form humans as well as natural factors like toxic phytoplankton
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The MoU came into effect immediately (18 October 2007) and will remain in effect indefinitely subject to the right of any signatory to terminate its participation by providing one year’s written notice to all of the other signatories.
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throughout its range in cooperation with the four signatories. It aims at providing a legal and institutional framework for the implementation of the Action Plan for the
Recovery of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in the Eastern Atlantic.
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147:. It focuses on the protection of the eastern Atlantic populations of the Mediterranean monk seal. The MoU covers four range states (Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal and Spain), all of which have signed.
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the signatories decide to work closely together to improve the conservation status of the species and its crucial habitat throughout its range. To this end they will, individually or collectively:
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Take steps to conserve and, when and where appropriate, to strictly protect the monk seal and to conserve and promote the sustainable use of the habitats essential for its survival
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Implement in their respective countries the provisions of the Action Plan annexed to the MoU as a basis for conserving all populations of the species in the eastern
Atlantic
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and the deterioration of breeding sites, such as collapsing caves roofs. The isolation of the small remaining populations – experts believe that the two colonies (one on
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Take steps to ratify the most relevant international conventions addressing monk seal’s conservation, in order to reinforce the species’ protection
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The Action Plan was prepared by the Monk Seal
Working Group and approved at the Eighth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties, held in
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Provide the CMS Secretariat at least every two years with a report on implementation of the MoU in each of their respective countries.
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In March 2011, conservationists rescued a two-month-old
Mediterranean monk seal. The seal was later on released in the region of the
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The Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the Eastern Atlantic Populations of the Mediterranean Monk Seal
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and their Habitats (WATCH) and came into effect immediately. The agreement is open for signature to all the Atlantic range states.
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Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for the Eastern Atlantic Populations of the Mediterranean Monk Seal
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and the other on the Cabo Blanco peninsula) do not interbreed – means that the species’ survival is precariously balanced.
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The MoU covers the eastern Atlantic populations of the Mediterranean monk seal as one of the most threatened
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In December 2010, scientist found a colony of rare Mediterranean monk seals at an undisclosed location in
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of the Northern Sporades island complex, from where he will begin his journey through the Greek seas.
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The MoU is a significant step towards improving the conservation status and the habitat of the
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monk seals in the Cabo Blanco Peninsula from 100 to 200 in the 1997-2009 period.
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http://www.cms.int/news/PRESS/nwPR2007/10_Oct/CMS_Press_Release_Monk_Seal.pdf
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http://www.cms.int/species/monk_seal/Monk_Seal_MoU_with_signatures_En.pdf
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In the framework of the Action Plan, a Nature Reserve was created in the
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The text of the MoU states that the Action Plan will include measure to:
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Signing of the Mediterranean Monk Seal MoU, Adeje, Spain, 18 October 2007
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Assess the implementation of the MoU and Action Plan at regular meetings
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In addition, the CMS Secretariat also signed the MoU (18 October 2007).
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Promote the regional coordination of actions between the range states
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Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
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Text of the Mediterranean Monk Seal Memorandum of Understanding:
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2007 memorandum between Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain
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their work conducted in relation to the MoU and Action Plan
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on 18 October 2007, in the margins of the CMS meeting on
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CMS Mediterranean Monk Seal Memorandum of Understanding
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Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
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Create a network of protected areas for the monk seal
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474:"Nireas ready for 'big splash' | Athens News"
194:Signatories to the Mediterranean Monk Seal MoU:
141:Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals
310:Evaluate the status and threats of monk seals
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313:Maintain and increase monk seal populations
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346:– provides the secretary functions.
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460:"Rare baby seal rescued in Greece"
446:"Refuge of endangered seals found"
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342:The CMS Secretariat – located in
135:is a multilateral environmental
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302:Action Plan and Working Group
329:Foca monje del Mediterráneo
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137:memorandum of understanding
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233:eastern Atlantic monk seal
143:(CMS), also known as the
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527:2007 in the environment
258:Toxigenic Phytoplankton
173:Mediterranean monk seal
552:Treaties of Mauritania
268:Fundamental components
240:Species covered by MoU
181:Adeje, Tenerife, Spain
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167:Monk seal distribution
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375:Alonnisos Marine Park
250:critically endangered
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562:Treaties of Portugal
557:Treaties of Morocco
448:. 31 December 2010.
392:CMS Press release:
171:Recalling that the
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363:the 15th century.
350:Successes and news
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151:Development of MoU
567:Treaties of Spain
532:Seal conservation
512:Monachus Guardian
418:"News | CMS"
219:(18 October 2007)
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177:Monachus monachus
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425:www.cms.int
338:Secretariat
44:Signatories
521:Categories
430:15 October
381:References
227:Aim of MoU
199:Mauritania
125:Portuguese
58:Mauritania
189:Cetaceans
187:Talks on
105:Languages
36:Effective
211:Portugal
84:Portugal
262:Madeira
252:on the
205:Morocco
121:Spanish
113:English
71:Morocco
368:Greece
117:French
109:Arabic
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217:Spain
97:Spain
486:2012
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