Caribbean Monk Seal Declared Extinct

From a media release issued by Ocean Conservancy:

Washington, DC - Today, the National Marine Fisheries Service declared the Caribbean monk seal to be officially extinct. Once hunted as food and for their oil, the loss of this species is a reminder of the stress that humans put on fragile ocean animal populations. Also vulnerable to extinction are two remaining monk seal species; the Hawaiian monk seal and Mediterranean monk seal. Challenges from climate change and marine debris -- floating trash and discarded or lost fishing nets and lines threaten the survival of ocean animals worldwide, including monk seals.