Skiathos is a Greek island in the Sporades archipelago, known for its verdant sceneries, turquoise waters and cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is also home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, including some rare and endangered species. But how did Skiathos manage to preserve its natural beauty and wildlife, and what are the threats and challenges it faces?
The natural beauty of Skiathos
Skiathos has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers, and receives abundant rainfall that nourishes its lush vegetation. The island is covered by pine forests, olive groves, vineyards, orchards and herb gardens, creating a green paradise for nature lovers. Skiathos also boasts more than 60 beaches, some of which are among the most beautiful in Greece, such as Koukounaries, Lalaria and Banana. The beaches have golden sand or white pebbles, crystal-clear water and stunning rock formations. Some of them are accessible only by boat, offering a sense of privacy and adventure.
The island also has a rich cultural heritage, dating back to ancient times. Skiathos was inhabited by the Cretans, the Pelasgians, the Athenians, the Macedonians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, the Turks and the Russians, leaving behind traces of their civilizations. The island has many historical monuments, such as the medieval castle of Bourtzi, the Byzantine monasteries of Evangelistria and Panagia Kechria, the old town of Skiathos with its traditional architecture and narrow alleys, and the house of Alexandros Papadiamantis, one of the most famous Greek writers.
The wildlife of Skiathos
Skiathos is part of the Natura 2000 network, a European initiative to protect biodiversity and natural habitats. The island hosts a variety of wildlife species, both terrestrial and marine. Some of them are endemic to Skiathos or to Greece, while others are migratory or occasional visitors.
Among the terrestrial species, Skiathos has several birds, such as the Eleonora’s falcon, the Scops owl, the European bee-eater, the hoopoe, the golden oriole and the woodchat shrike. It also has reptiles, such as the Balkan green lizard, the four-lined snake and the marginated tortoise. It also has mammals, such as the wild rabbit, the hedgehog and the weasel.
Among the marine species, Skiathos is part of the National Marine Park of Alonnisos-Sporades (NMPAS), which is the largest marine protected area in Europe. The NMPAS covers an area of 2.260 square kilometers and includes 22 islands and islets. The NMPAS aims to conserve the marine ecosystem and its biodiversity, especially the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), which is one of the rarest pinnipeds in the world. The NMPAS also hosts other marine mammals, such as dolphins (bottlenose dolphin,
common dolphin and striped dolphin), whales (sperm whale and Cuvier’s beaked whale) and sea turtles (loggerhead turtle and green turtle). It also hosts a variety of fish (such as grouper,
sea bream and tuna), crustaceans (such as lobster and shrimp), mollusks (such as octopus
and squid), corals (such as red coral) and seagrasses (such as Posidonia oceanica).
The Mediterranean monk seal
The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the main attractions of Skiathos and the NMPAS. It is a large seal that can grow up to 2.4 meters long and weigh up to 400 kilograms. It has a dark brown or black fur with a white patch on its belly that varies in shape between males
and females. It has a short snout with upward-facing nostrils and long whiskers. It has short flippers with small claws and two pairs of abdominal teats.
The Mediterranean monk seal is an ancient species that has been living in the Mediterranean Sea for millions of years. It was once widespread throughout its range,
but due to human persecution for its fur, oil and meat, habitat degradation from pollution,
overfishing and coastal development, disease outbreaks from morbillivirus infection,
and natural disasters such as storms and earthquakes,
it has suffered a dramatic decline in population size
and distribution. It is estimated that there are fewer than 700 individuals left in the wild, divided into three or four isolated subpopulations: one in the eastern Mediterranean (mainly in Greece and Turkey), one in the western Mediterranean (mainly in Morocco and Algeria), one in the Cabo Blanco area (in Mauritania and Western Sahara) and one in the Madeira archipelago (in Portugal). The Mediterranean monk seal is classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List and is protected by national and international laws and conventions.
The Mediterranean monk seal is a social and curious animal that lives in small groups of up to 20 individuals. It feeds mainly on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, but it can also eat
seabirds, turtles and eels. It can dive up to 200 meters deep and stay underwater for up to 15 minutes. It breeds once a year, usually between September and November, and gives birth to a single pup after a gestation period of 10 to 11 months. The pup is born with a dark brown or black coat that is replaced by the adult fur after six to eight weeks. The pup stays with its mother for up to 18 months, learning how to hunt and survive. The Mediterranean monk seal can live up to 45 years, but the average lifespan is 20 to 25 years.
The Mediterranean monk seal faces many threats from human activities and natural factors. Some of the main threats are:
- Illegal hunting and fishing: Some fishermen consider the monk seal as a competitor for fish resources and a nuisance for their nets and traps. They may shoot, poison or trap the seals intentionally or accidentally. Some hunters may also target the seals for their fur or meat, despite the legal protection.
- Habitat loss and disturbance: The monk seal prefers to use secluded caves with underwater entrances as resting, breeding and nursing sites. However, many of these caves have been destroyed or degraded by coastal development, tourism, boat traffic, noise, light and pollution. As a result, some seals have been forced to use open beaches, where they are more exposed to human disturbance and predation by dogs or other animals.
- Disease outbreaks: The monk seal is susceptible to morbillivirus infection, which is a highly contagious and lethal disease that affects the respiratory, nervous and immune systems of marine mammals. In 1997, a major outbreak of morbillivirus killed more than 200 seals in the Cabo Blanco area, reducing the population by more than 60%. Other diseases that may affect the monk seal include leptospirosis, brucellosis, toxoplasmosis and rabies.
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Natural disasters: The monk seal is vulnerable to natural disasters such as storms,
earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions that may damage its habitat, displace its population or cause mortality.
The conservation efforts
In order to save the Mediterranean monk seal from extinction, several conservation efforts have been implemented by national authorities, international organizations,
non-governmental organizations, local communities and researchers. Some of these efforts are:
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Establishing and managing protected areas: The NMPAS is one of the most important protected areas for the monk seal conservation. It was established in 1992
and covers an area of 2.260 square kilometers and includes 22 islands and islets. The NMPAS aims to conserve the marine ecosystem and its biodiversity,
especially the endangered Mediterranean monk seal,
which is one of the rarest pinnipeds in the world.
The NMPAS also hosts other marine mammals,
such as dolphins (bottlenose dolphin,
common dolphin and striped dolphin), whales (sperm whale and Cuvier’s beaked whale) and sea turtles (loggerhead turtle and green turtle). It also hosts a variety of fish (such as grouper,
sea bream and tuna), crustaceans (such as lobster and shrimp), mollusks (such as octopus
and squid), corals (such as red coral) and seagrasses (such as Posidonia oceanica).
The NMPAS is managed by a consortium of partners,
including the Ministry of Environment of Greece,
the Municipality of Alonnisos,
the Management Body of NMPAS,
the Hellenic Society for the Study
and Protection of the Monk Seal (MOm),
the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF),
the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
and other stakeholders.
The management activities include patrolling,
monitoring,
research,
education,
awareness-raising,
ecotourism
and community involvement. -
Reducing illegal hunting and fishing: One of the main threats for the monk seal is illegal hunting
and fishing by some fishermen who consider the seal as a competitor
for fish resources
and a nuisance for their nets
and traps..
