by croatiaweek
August 24, 2026
in
Mediterranean monk seal swimming in Mrtvi Puć Bay, Šišan, Croatia (Photo: Marinko Babić/CC BY-SA 4.0)
PULA, 24 August 2026 — The return of a Mediterranean monk seal to the Adriatic has attracted attention in Croatia, with scientists saying the appearance of the protected species indicates that the sea continues to provide sufficient food.
The species once lived throughout the Adriatic and was still present in the region during the 19th century. Hunting and killing Mediterranean monk seals was banned in 1935, as populations had declined significantly.
The latest sighting has renewed interest in one of the Mediterranean’s rarest marine mammals and its presence in Croatian waters.
Scientists cited by Večernji list say the Adriatic has enough food to support the species, although the Mediterranean monk seal remains highly protected and vulnerable.
The animal’s return is significant because the species has suffered a dramatic decline across the Mediterranean as a result of historical hunting, habitat disturbance and other human pressures.
The Mediterranean monk seal is considered one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals. Individual sightings in the Adriatic are therefore closely followed by conservationists and marine researchers.
Croatia’s Adriatic remains an important habitat for a wide range of protected marine species, and the presence of a Mediterranean monk seal is another indication of the ecological value of the country’s coastal waters.