[2] It was declared on 30 November 1971 as the Seal Beach Aquatic Reserve for the purpose of ‘the protection of a major breeding colony of the Australian sea lion’.

The following activities are prohibited in the aquatic reserve - access to waters adjoining Seal Bay by members of the public, fishing, and the collection or the removal of any marine organism.

The aquatic reserve covered the full extent of the coastal frontage of Seal Bay and extended seaward a distance of about 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) covering an area of 4.04 square kilometres (1.56 square miles).

[5] Since 2012, it was located within the boundaries of a “restricted access zone” within the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park.

[6] In 2014, the aquatic reserve was classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area.