Algae link to seal deaths

TEN seals washed up dead on Surf Coast beaches in November, prompting suggestions that a bloom of bioluminescent algae may be impacting marine life.

An AGL marine response unit spokesman said three seals were found at Torquay in a week, three at Eastern View, and others at Wild Dog Creek, near Apollo Bay, Fairhaven, Jan Juc and Anglesea.

The dead animals included a mix of mature-aged and yearling seals.

AGL Marine Response Unit co-ordinator Mark Keenan said November was an “incredibly busy” month for the unit, with 12 seals in distress reported between Queenscliff and Apollo Bay.

“Of those 12 we euthanised three seals, all one-year-old animals suffering suspected malnutrition, one each at Marengo, Queenscliff and Ocean Grove,” he said.

He said the unit had heard suggestions that a bloom of sea sparkle (Noctiluca scintillans) algae at Torquay and Lorne may have harmed the seals, but had since been unable to recover any deceased animals to look for pathological signs that the algae was causing the deaths.

Mr Keenan said an adult long nose fur seal died at Breamlea and was collected for necropsy, but he suspected another adult long nose fur seal had also died at Breamlea earlier in the month.

He said it was a “busier than normal period” but it wasn’t so suspicious as to ring alarm bells.

“Deceased seals are hard to keep track of, because very few of these animals are disposed of so they can be reported again and again, and recorded differently depending on an individual’s interpretation of a location,” Mr Keenan said.

An AGL spokesman said the unit found one of the dead seals had been decapitated and believed the seal was killed by an animal.

The spokesman said seals younger than 12 months had a higher mortality rate because they were learning to survive without their mothers.

“Up to 70 per cent of the population of that age dies in that period of time,” the spokesman said.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning senior forest and wildlife officer Roberta Campbell said the department had received reports of two dead juvenile seals along the Surf Coast in the past few weeks.

A Barwon Coast Committee of Management spokesman said many seals came to rest on Surf Coast shores for a variety of reasons.

“We ask all bystanders to keep clear of resting seals and to keep dogs at least 30m away,” the spokesman said.

Reports of injured, sick and distressed marine wildlife may be made to the AGL Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678. People can report any unusual wildlife deaths to DELWP on 136 186.