Seal culling in South Australia
Under the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 seals and other pinnipeds are now fully protected, although culling them remains a topic of public debate.
The gradual recovery of the population, spanning the past century, has brought them into increasing conflict with the state's fishing industry.
"[5]White estimated that prior to the European colonisation of South Australia, hundreds of thousands of seals likely inhabited its waters.
[7] Other accounts of inland seal sightings prior to 1933 include at Tyntynder, Pental Island, Echuca and near Swan Hill.
At that time, fishermen in the neighbouring state of Victoria were allowed to shoot seals which interfered with their fishing efforts or equipment.
In a written reply, A. Keith Minchin, Director of Adelaide's Koala Farm, called the claim "a colossal exaggeration" and wrote that even a large seal would consume less than 12 pounds (5.4 kg) of fish daily.
[16] In 1967, it was alleged that fishermen were harpooning seals and dolphins in South Australian waters and using the meat as crayfish bait.
The southern bluefin tuna ranching industry was established in the early 1990s and reported increasing interactions with fur seals in the 2010s.
He also stated that most of the fur seals' diet consists of red bait and arrow squid, and not species which are typically caught and sold for human consumption.
[24] In June 2015, the prospect of seal culling in South Australia became a subject of increasing public debate and controversy.
[25] In July 2015, fishermen from the Lower Lakes and Coorong region reported that fur seals had damaged their fishing nets.
The Narrinjeri believe that pelicans embody the spirits of their dead ancestors,[27] and has said that he didn't care that killing or hurting the animals was an illegal act under "white man's law".
Regions in which claims have been made that fur seals are affecting fisheries and aquaculture businesses include: Kangaroo Island, the Lower lakes and Coorong, and southern Spencer Gulf.
"[21]In April 2016, South Australia's environment minister Ian Hunter reaffirmed the Government's position stating "the best available science" showed a cull "would not work".
He told The Advertiser that the Government was instead "focusing our resources on measures to reduce the impact of long nosed fur seal populations, including trialing different nets and underwater cracker deterrents.”[28] All seals and sealions are protected in South Australian waters as listed marine mammals under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
[30] Culling seals in South Australian waters has been advocated for most strongly by fishermen and aquaculture operators who claim that their businesses have suffered as a result of the population's recovery.
[21][34] Politicians advocating for the commencement of a cull have included Liberal Party MPs Adrian Pederick,[31] Michael Pengilly[34] and Jamie Briggs.
While Family First politician Robert Brokenshire has been critical of the Government's "do nothing" approach, he has also expressed concern over the impact that seal culling could have on the State's reputation and tourism industry.
"[26] SA Shark Industry spokesman Kyri Toumazos suggested that a permitting scheme for seal culling operates in Tasmania.
However, closer examination of seal-fishery interactions at the ecosystem level suggests that removing or culling seals may in fact be detrimental to fish stocks rather than beneficial.
