D. Glain et al., Fishermen and seal conservation: survey of attitudes towards monk seals inGreece and grey seals in Cornwall, MAMMALIA, 65(3), 2001, pp. 309-317
Two studies, carried out independently, investigated the seal-fisheries int
eractions for the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus in Greece and t
he grey seal Halichoerus grypus in Cornwall, England. In both countries the
attitude of fishermen towards seals, the problems of the fishery sector an
d proposed solutions were recorded. Fishermen and fishery-related officials
were interviewed. The results provide evidence that seals do have an impac
t on fishermen activities leading to a loss of profit. Even though, 61.5% o
f fishermen in Greece and 83% in Cornwall complained that seals have an adv
erse effection their activities, they do not consider seals as their most i
mportant problem. The results, concerning suggested solutions to the seal i
ssue, show that fishermen are open to initiatives which may not only addres
s their problems, but also the seal conservation issues.