all species experienced overhunting by sealers. the hawaiian monk seal experienced population drops in the 19th century and during world war ii, and the caribbean monk seal was exploited since the 1500s until the 1850s, when populations were too low to hunt commercially. the mediterranean monk seal has experienced commercial hunting since the middle ages and eradication by fishermen. monk seals have developed a fear of humans, and may even abandon beaches due to human presence. currently, around 1,700 monk seals remain.