In 1952, the Caribbean monk seal was declared extinct due to hunting and habitat disturbance caused by human activities. This extinction serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of marine ecosystems and the impact of overexploitation. The loss of the Caribbean monk seal highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect vulnerable species and their habitats from similar threats.

The extinction of the Caribbean monk seal in 1952 echoed in maritime poetry, where poets reflected on vanishing marine mammals and altered seascapes. This loss became a poignant symbol of environmental degradation and human impact on nature, prompting calls for conservation in poetic form.