Seal spotted sunning itself on Parramatta River jetty
A SEAL has been sighted in the Parramatta River at Silverwater, sunning itself on a jetty close to houses, in a rare appearance for one of the marine mammals so far up the befouled waterway.
Parramatta
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parramatta . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A SILVERWATER jetty has been given the seal of approval.
A seal was spotted sunbaking on the jetty, metres from homes in the western Sydney suburb this week.
It’s a rare sighting that has excited experts that have worked hard to get the river’s water quality swimmable by 2025.
The seal was five metres away from home for a good 10 minutes before swimming off again last Wednesday at about 2pm.
“I can’t believe there’s a seal in Silverwater, how can this be,” one resident told media.
“Seeing a seal didn’t enter my mind.”
What Parramatta River experts have found is the water quality has improved.
There are now four swimming locations on the river’s edge — Cabarita, Dawn Fraser baths, Chiswick baths and Parramatta Lake. But their aim is to have all of Parramatta River swimmable by 2025.
Reports have found an increasing number of wildlife spotted in Parramatta River — from dolphins to seals — animals not noticed before.
Parramatta River is a complete estuary, meaning it is saltwater to Charles St Weir, where the Parramatta ferry wharf is.
Everything upstream is freshwater.
There are 10 species of seals and sea lions that live in Australian waters but much of the population declined in the 18th and 19th centuries due to them being hunted for their meat, oil and fur. Today, all seals are protected.
The unusual sighting on the Parramatta River follows on from a New Zealand fur seal being spotted at the mouth of the Parramatta River back in July 2015.
A fisherman spotted the mammal.
“I was taking my boat up towards Iron Cove Bridge between Cockatoo Island and the Dawn Fraser pool when I came upon this piece of magic,” Stephen Rushton told media.
At the time, a National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman said improved water quality could be one of a number of factors contributing to increased sightings of seals and other marine mammals.
As a result of local councils undertaking initiatives to clean up the Parramatta, Lane Cove and Georges rivers, there were healthier fish stocks in the river.
A Taronga Zoo marine mammal expert said he’d heart of seals being sighted as far as Putney.
Dolphins were also spotted as far west as Silverwater and Rhodes back in August 2015.
The pod was seen in Brays Bay near Rhodes hunting for schools of fish.
“It was one of the best things I have ever experienced — seeing dolphins in that part of the river,” a Rhodes resident said at the time.
SEAL LIFE
● Seals dine on squid and fish and Antarctic species love krill
● Some seals are known to eat seabirds and even other seals
● There are 10 species of seals and sea lions in Australian waters
● They were hunted for their meat, oil and fur but are now protected