Scaling up protection of Mediterranean monk seals through sustainable tourism in Türkiye

The Mediterranean monk seal, listed as Endangered, relies on coastal caves and healthy seagrass along Türkiye's southwestern coast. With around 100 seals estimated to live there, threats from boat traffic and coastal development remain. The TUI Sea the Change Türkiye project, launched in 2024, aims to enhance marine protection and raise awareness among local communities while protecting approximately 200,000 square meters of critical coastal and marine habitat. Seal monitoring continues using camera-based systems and acoustic methods to better understand their behavior.