Dozens of environmental activists gathered in Amchit on Sunday to protest against private construction work overlooking the natural coastal cave that is home to Mediterranean monk seals.
Activist Farid Abi Younes called on Saturday for the demonstration, when the work on the building site resumed despite the opposition of the inhabitants of Amchit and the activists.
The monk seal is a critically endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are only around 400 of these mammals left in the Mediterranean. Pollution and coastal development are the main causes of their disappearance. This solitary species (hence the nickname monk) is very sensitive to noise pollution.
Two days ago, a number of people gathered on the site to oppose the endangering of the natural cave on plot 345.
In June 2022, work on the same site was halted by the Ministry of Tourism following protests by environmental activists.
Work resumed again in May, prompting the activists to organize a new protest movement.
At the time, environmentalists lashed out at the caretaker Minister of Environment, Nasser Yassine, who claimed that an environmental study had been carried out and that the work would not endanger the seal’s natural habitat.
Today, it appears that the Ministry of Tourism has given the green light for the project, which has also been approved by the Municipality of Amchit and the relevant ministries (Public Works, Culture, and Tourism) in accordance with the law.
At the same time, the Ministry of Environment has confirmed that it is working on a national monk seal conservation project.
