Fishermen fed up with seal relocation

FISHERMEN are gutted by the continued relocation of hungry rogue seals from salmon farms into their fishing grounds.

Fisherman David Osborne, Shane Dixon and Craig Garland are fed up with the relocation of seals into their fishing grounds. Picture: Grant Wells

THE relocation of problem seals from fish farms to the state’s North-West is causing anger among commercial fishers, who say their nets are being plundered by increasingly aggressive seals and their catches are significantly down.

The transporting of seals away from salmon farms began in the 1990s as a temporary way of providing respite until better pen security measures were introduced.

But almost 30 years later, a frustrated band of small mesh net fishermen say they have had enough and it is time for the State Government to stop rogue seals being moved away from pens and into other fishing grounds.

While two of Tasmania’s three big salmon farmers say they no longer relocate seals, Tassal’s website shows it transported 1689 seals to the North-West from its southern farms last financial year.

Trailers with nine caged seals on board are now regularly spotted at Rocky Cape, Port Latta, Pardoe Beach and Peggs Beach.

Fisherman John Stevenson, who has been forced to return to other work to supplement his dwindling fishing income, said his records showed more than 7000 seals have been relocated into Bass Strait by fish farmers since the practice started.

Some find their way back to their original hunting grounds — many do not.

A State Government report from 2002 acknowledged the practice was helping fish farms, but moving the problem onto others.

“Commercial and recreation fishers near the release sites believe their problems with seals are aggravated by the relocations. We recommend the gradual phasing out of translocations as better management tools become available,” the report said.

Fisherman Bob Gillam with a net destroyed by seals. Picture: Grant Wells

Julian Harrington, from the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council, said he was aware of the issue and was in talks with the State Government.

Mr Stevenson said he had always been told the relocation system would be phased out but the problem was getting worse.

“The seals will keep coming back to where they can get a feed, and right now it is our nets,” he said. “Relocating hungry seals from one enterprise to another is akin to moving a problem wild dog from one sheep farm to another.”

Veteran fisherman Bob Gillam said small operators were being sent broke.

“Rocky Cape was the only sheltered water I could work in during westerly weather but not any more. As soon as the seals hear an outboard motor they charge and they are getting increasingly aggressive,” Mr Gillam said.

“If the problem was down to nature we would just have to cope with it, but it is not, it is a man-made problem and we are bearing the brunt.

“I went to a meeting with the Government in Ross 15 years ago to talk about the issue and was guaranteed seal relocation would be phased out. We have been patient but we have been pushed as far as we can go.”

Fisherman John Stevenson said the problem was getting worse. Picture: Grant Wells.

Montagu fisherman Craig Garland agreed: “What I catch in scale fish these days does not even pay my fuel bill. It is just not economically viable anymore. We have always been a multi-species fishery but the seal problem has changed that. We are now restricted to just one species to get a financial return — that then has flow-on effects in that fishery.

“We want to meet with the Minister for Primary Industries Jeremy Rockliff and Tassal and come to a workable solution.”

Tassal said its new seal-proof sanctuary cages, which protect employees, seals and fish from harm, were working very effectively with zero breaches to date.

“Relocating seals is a last resort. Seal patterns are very seasonal and we are currently in the height of it, however, we always aim for a zero harm approach and any relocation is conducted in a way that protects seal welfare,” Tassal said.

“In parallel, Tassal has commissioned a research study into seal behaviours using GPS trackers to comprehensively understand seal patterns, including how they traverse between locations and pens.”

In its 2016 sustainability report, Tassal said relocation events had increased slightly as a result of its focus to proactively manage fish welfare and relocate “serial offender seals” which posed immediate threats to its people and its fish.