Recreational fishermen at Narooma have been known to grumble about the increasing number of seals not only around Montague Island but now also inside Wagonga Inlet.
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Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club president Les Waldock has written about his concerns about whether the seals are having an impact on popular recreational species inside the inlet such as bream and flathead. His full letter can be read below.
The Narooma News thought it would contact a seal expert to ask his views on what the seal numbers were doing and what impact they could be having.
Professor Robert Harcourt leads the Marine Predator Research Group at Macquarie University and has spent considerable time researching seals around Australia, including at Montague Island.
There are two species of seals on the island in the Narooma area, the Australian fur seal and the New Zealand fur seal.
The New Zealand fur seal is more of a pelagic feeder that chases baitfish and squid in the open ocean, whereas the Australian fur seal is recognised more as a benthic feeder going after more varied fish, sharks and octopus on the bottom of the ocean.
It is the Australian fur seals that seem to have become more common inside Wagonga Inlet and tracking has shown some individuals going back and forth from the inlet and the island.
The feeding behaviour of these seals is complex but Prof. Harcourt does acknowledge that they could be feeding on species popular with recreational fishers such as flathead and bream.
But he said the inlet ecosystem evolved with far more seals around and so the fish species were not in greater danger of being wiped out than before.
It is understood that the Australian fur seal population has been growing at 5 to 6 per cent a year over the last 25 years after the population was almost brought to the brink of extinction by hunting, but that the current population was still only less than half the historic numbers of 225,000.
Food webs are complex and it is entirely possible that a healthier seal population would actually be better for fish stocks as the seals eat the larger, cannibalistic fish that are responsible for preying on the smaller fish of their own species, he said.
So in essence, the seal populations returning to historic levels could help local waters get back to their natural balance and may even lead to bigger and more healthier fish.
Mr Waldock made assumptions that the seals could be eating 10 per cent of their body weight, but Prof. Harcourt contested that amount saying it was not that much.
The seals meanwhile have become a great tourist attraction, something that even Mr Waldock acknowledges, with visitors able to get up close to the adults and juveniles hauled out on the break wall near Australia Rock at the inlet entrance.
Visitors are reminded to keep their distance and not to go any closer to the basking seals than the footpath allows.
Recent marine science graduate Marie Clee has been observing the Narooma break wall seals for the past six weeks and was here observing over the summer for a few months also. She said it was vital that everyone kept their distance, which she said was officially 40 metres.
“There have been too many times I have had to growl at people for being right down near them,” Ms Clee said. “When I am there I do try to educate people about the animals and encourage them to go over to Montague as I believe this is a great way to inspire people to become good stewards of our marine environment.”
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Seals in Wagonga Inlet – a letter from NSGFC president Les Waldock
It's with careful consideration I write something on seals in and around beautiful Narooma. Montague Island is famed for its wonderful wildlife that abounds on and in the waters surrounding this iconic land mass.
Seals were an attraction back in the 70s when I first started visiting Narooma. Nothing has changed other than their population and popularity, which has grown twofold and more. Estimations of the populations of the two colonies of seals that enjoy Montague Island, as their home, are well in excess of 2000 and growing.
Arguments of this many seals on and around the Island continue on a daily basis. Is it sustainable, is it healthy, does the tourist dollar for seal tours and dives out weigh the fishing charter dollar, when catches by the fishermen are very affected by seals taking the catch?
All 'discussions' have validity, many an income to the commercial operator has and will be determined by the number of seals that live and feed out at the Island. Some will profit with the diving/swimming with these animals, others will lose repeat business due to the 'losses' when hooked fish are taken by the seals on a regular basis and the fisher, paying for the charter, will go elsewhere next time.
Now the seals, and they have for a while, made their home on the south break wall of the entrance to Wagonga Inlet. Up to a dozen have taken up residence on the break wall rocks. Most visitors to Narooma view the seals on the break wall at least once whilst in town.
A tourist attraction no doubt. Brings money to the town,no argument. Can we build on this attraction as their numbers grow? Again no doubt,but from a fisherman’s point of view I believe it has and will continue to have a detrimental effect on Wagonga Inlet and the repeat fishing visitor who comes to fish the Inlet on their holidays or visit, several times a year.
Before everyone howls protest and abuse, I'm an advocate for Narooma to grow, be wealthy, healthy and progressive. I've always encouraged people to visit, stay, enjoy and even permanently move here to this wonderful town.
Seals, whales, fishing, birdlife, boating, beaches, great people, wonderful scenery, the list goes on and on. Our unofficial logo, 'How Life Should Be' just about sums it up, in fact it does!!
I fish the Inlet often with varied success. What is consistent, if my fishing isn't, is the huge amount of baitfish that is present in the inlet year round. I have no doubt this is the staple diet of the inlet seals and would make up a fair amount of their kill. The local fish outlet, near the highway bridge, also contributes to their diet with the frames and offcuts, as do the local boat ramps, which the seals frequent regularly.
What concerns me is the reduction in the resident fish from the inlet, especially the slow growing bream that Wagonga Inlet is famous for. Other species such as the luderick and gurnard are also of concern.
Seals are great predictors.I watch them from my verandah floating vertically in the water, tail in the air, head well under water, going upstream in the current, not a movement to be seen. On spotting their prey, which could be bream, flathead or whiting for instance, they explode with speed and resurface with the quarry firmly in their mouths. Spectacular hunters, lethal at what they do.
In Winter, this is a common occurrence and one that worries me. Is the inlet a sustainable fishery? Can it cope from the pressures of both the recreational fishing sector and now another 'predator,' the seal?
In the short term, probably. Long term, with the removal of the resident breeding fish, I fear not. Measures that can be put in place to prevent a reduction in the fishery, which would flow to the tourist and town economy, are many.
Relocation of the seals, catch and release only fishery, closures to the Inlet for months at a time, more fisheries management, the list goes on. I do believe one thing for sure, a discussion is needed by all parties to see if this 'fear' of mine becomes a reality or I'm just wrong.
Ian Kerr, National Parks and Wildlife Service officer calls it a natural evolution, historically the inlet and this area was occupied by thousands of seals. He maybe right and eventually Narooma will be a mecca for tourists here to see the seals but the fishing will be just ordinary at best.
Interested in any other thoughts people may have. Yes I'm President of a local fishing club but the above is generated by my own thoughts, not those of the fishing club.
Les Waldock