Tassal looks at new spots to relocate seals

SALMON producer Tassal says it is looking at alternative sites for its seal location program, following a backlash from North-West fishers

Australian fur seals.

SALMON producer Tassal says it is looking at alternative sites for its seal location program, following a backlash from North-West fishers.

The company has relocated more than 400 seals to the North-West in the space of a month.

Speaking on ABC radio today, spokeswoman Barb MacGregor said more sites were being examined while Tassal continued to roll out its seal-proof pens.

The locations would be announced in the near future and the local communities consulted, she said.

MORE: Fishermen fed up with seal relocation

The company expected to have 50 per cent of its seal proof enclosures rolled out by year’s end and was expecting seal numbers to decline at the conclusion of breeding season.

Ms Macgregor said the company fully “sympathised” with the concerns of North-West fishers.

The company did not expect seals to be a major issue at the new Okehampton Bay development because they were using the seal-proof enclosures.

As reported by the Mercury on the weekend, fish are expected to go into the pens at Okehampton Bay from today.

The Mercury last month reported the relocation of problem seals from fish farms to the state’s North-West was causing anger among commercial fishers, who said their nets were being plundered by increasingly aggressive seals and their catches were significantly down.

Liberal MP Adam Brooks recently came out to demand a solution.