Until recently, studies specifically targeting the Mediterranean monk seal in the Gulf of Iskenderun were very scarce, the species only being considered within the framework of general marine biology studies. Nevertheless, the issue was briefly included in the “Conservation of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in Turkey: Cilician Basin (TR0019. 03)” and the “Mersin-North Cyprus Project (TR0015. 03)”–projects supported by WWF International, Europe/Middle East Program (Gucu et al. 1997, 1998, 1999). Furthermore, Middle East Technical University, Institute of Marine Sciences (METU-IMS), has carried out various marine biological surveys since the 1980s, some of which addressed monk seal distribution in the area.

The northern part of the Gulf of Iskenderun is characterized by low topography, sand dunes and very heavy industrial developments, with marine terminals and their respective coastal infrastructures. Therefore, the area has never been considered among the important monk seal habitats in Turkey. However, interviews with local fishermen during an Environmental Impact Assessment study conducted for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline construction indicate that monk seals have been seen along the coast at Yumurtalik and particularly around Sugozu, where the marine terminal of the pipeline is located. Consequently, the Mediterranean monk seal is identified as one of the key priority themes of the Environmental Investment Program launched by BTC Co, which selected the METU-IMS to conduct research on the species.