SEAL TRACKERS
SATELLITE trackers could be stuck on rogue seals relocated from southern fish farms to northern Tasmania, where fishers say they are plundering fish stocks and damaging nets.
Salmon company Tassal intends to fund research into the problematic predators as it pledges to ultimately scrap its controversial South-North seal relocations and roll out seal-proof pens at all its fish farms.
If the project is approved, about 50 seals from Tassal’s southern leases will have GPS tags glued on to them and their behaviour tracked at as yet undisclosed locations in northern Tasmania.
The company has come under fire for its seal relocations, which included 400 dumped in the state’s NorthWest in the space of a month.
An Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies spokesman said the northern Tasmanian relocation research sites were yet to be determined.
“The scientific permit application currently being considered is aimed at increasing understanding of seal interac- tions with marine farms,” he said.
“This information would be used to identify measures that could be considered in future to reduce interactions between marine farms and seal populations.
“If the application is ap- proved, the [relocation] sites would be identified based on further discussions with Tassal and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
“Tassal is responsible for sourcing funding for the research if it is approved.”
In its research application, IMAS noted it intended to compare the seals’ time spent foraging naturally with that involving commercial fishing interactions.
“The question of how to interact with marine predators in terms of food production is becoming increasingly pressing,” IMAS submitted.
“Interactions between seals and fisheries are a longstanding issue in Tasmania. Yet we currently understand very little about the way the Australian fur seal, a conspicuous top predator, uses the Tasmanian marine environment.”
A Tassal spokesman said the company was a funding partner for the research.
“The proposed research is to help us understand the atsea behaviour of Australian fur seals to better inform a responsible management approach,” he said.