Nature's Second-Class Citizens

by Jim Curtis and Troy Muir (2000)

[PLEASE NOTE: Since the writing of this article in 2000, members of Polperro's crew, with the support of other tour opeators, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Tourism Alliance Victoria, created a code of conduct for seal tourism activities in Port Phillip Bay]

Imagine a thin piece of twine or netting wrapped around your neck that you cannot escape from. It is like a permanent collar that with every movement of your body digs it deeper into your throat. It hinders your breathing and prevents you from swallowing. You are starving, exhausted and weak. To add to your despair, you are photographed everyday by tourists who are either oblivious to your sorrowful situation, or are powerless to do anything to help you. As your wounds become infected, the pain grows and the inevitable becomes obvious. This is the life of a dying seal in Victoria's Port Phillip Bay.

Despite a growing number of seal deaths characterised by such cruel circumstances, the sad fact is that few species can compete with the popularity of whales and dolphins when it comes to marine mammal protection campaigns. Their universal appeal has created a marketable and fashionable image that has been used by environmental campaigners to generate tremendous political and public support for their plight. Although whales and dolphins are deserving of this attention, it sometimes occurs at the expense of other marine mammals, such as seals, that may be at greater risk, but have been bestowed by nature with a less sympathetic public image. In the context of protection priorities, not all species are created equal.

Port Phillip Bay provides a good example of 'species discrimination'. Located at Australia's south eastern corner, this 2,000 square kilometre body of water is the gateway to the busy industrial ports of Melbourne and Geelong, has over three million people living around its shores, and supports major commercial and recreational fishing activities. It is also a unique tourist attraction with marine and coastal features that include towering kelp forests, picturesque sponge gardens, expansive seagrass pastures and mudflats, colourful reef fish varieties, historic shipwrecks and some of the best scuba diving sites in Australia. However, the Bay's most popular tourism asset is undoubtedly its resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Their regular presence in the southern waters of the Bay during the warmer months has seen them become the focus of a burgeoning tourism industry based on dolphin swimming and watching. But the annual growth in the number of operators and tourists has forced the Victorian government, research institutions and some of the more experienced operators to be actively involved in an ongoing process of establishing and refining a set of regulations that will provide for the dolphins' long-term protection. The regulations stipulate how tour operators must behave when in the presence of dolphins, and establish specific limits to reduce the potential of any negative environmental impacts. For example, a dolphin swim cannot last for more than 20 minutes, and only 10 passengers at a time are allowed in the water. Although some shortcomings remain, the regulations are at least an attempt at achieving a sustainable environmental management regime for the benefit of both the dolphins and the industry.

Bottlenose dolphins are not the only marine mammals inhabiting the waters of Port Phillip Bay, as small colonies of Australian Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) can also be found on navigational structures that border the Bay's shipping channels. Belonging to the Otariid (meaning 'little ear') Pinniped (meaning 'winged foot') family, the seals use these structures as 'haul out' points to rest on in between feeding. They do not breed while in the Bay as this only occurs at a small number of sites in Bass Strait, the biggest being Seal Rocks near Phillip Island. Although once commercially hunted, Australian Fur Seals are now protected by legislation that makes it illegal to kill, hurt or harass them, or to sell or own seal-related products. However, such legislative measures are not necessarily a definitive means of protection.

Visiting one of the Bay's navigational structures to see the seals has become a regular practice for many dolphin and dive operators, especially on days when the dolphins are being elusive. Given that the seals spend long periods of time resting on these structures, they are a much more reliable attraction and provide operators with a welcome means of keeping their passengers entertained while continuing the arduous process of trying to spot dolphins. Their large brown eyes, long whiskers and thick fur coats are photographic features that few tourists can resist, although the act of taking photographs sometimes comes to an abrupt halt when the passengers suddenly become aware of the seals' pungent smell downwind. While simply observing them is satisfying enough for some tourists, it is the chance to actually swim with Australian Fur Seals that most people want to experience. Whether it involves anxiously watching the huge shadow of a 300 kilogram, two metre adult male floating beneath, being caught in the middle of an aggressive game of chase between a couple of juveniles, or having an inquisitive seal playfully biting the end of your fins, it is hard not to be simultaneously exhilarated and intimidated in the presence of these mischievous marine mammals.

The most popular and accessible navigational structure in Port Phillip Bay to view Australian Fur Seals is called The Caisson. It supports a colony of 15 to 30 animals, is located only a few kilometres offshore, and provides the best conditions for viewing and swimming with the seals in terms of water depth (approximately 3-4 metres) and tidal influences. But the pressure on this small colony, especially during the peak summer holiday season, is nothing short of tremendous. Up to 30 different commercial tour vessels, and countless recreational boat owners, will visit The Caisson on a single day, jostling and vying with each other to gain the best position. Approximately two thirds of the tour vessels are dive operators that have the capacity to run three trips per day, with 50 divers on each trip. Unlike dolphin tours that are subject to strict swimmer and time limits, there are no such legislative restrictions for seals. It is not unusual for up to 100 swimmers to be constantly in the water throughout the entire day. This ceaseless pressure has a very noticeable effect on the seals, and it results in responses that are a combination of fear and aggression. By the end of the peak summer holiday season, it is quite common for seals to 'charge' swimmers with their mouths wide open, blowing bubbles and bearing their teeth. Although there is usually no physical contact, it is an obvious sign that the seals have simply had enough of the constant human presence and their exploitation as little more than 'products' to satisfy tourists.

Unfortunately, the impacts of tourism are relatively benign when compared to some of the more sickening injuries experienced by the Bay's seal population. Boat propellers, toxic pollutants, plastic bags, bailing twine and discarded fishing equipment have all earned reputations as very capable seal killers, with the resultant deaths being some of the cruelest seen in nature. For example, while some seals struck by fast moving vessels are 'lucky enough' to be killed instantly, others are not, and sustain gruesome wounds that will inevitably, but slowly, lead to their death. In a vain attempt at survival, these seals will sometimes struggle ashore to try to rest and recuperate, only to die later from internal injuries or excessive bleeding. But probably the most common fate experienced by seals these days is typified by the following comments from Ms Justine McNamara, a prominent local divemaster in Port Phillip Bay:

Last summer, I watched an adolescent fur seal waste away. It died through malnutrition, suffocation and the injuries sustained from a tangle of fishing line that surrounded its neck. I watched it suffer for over a fortnight. The sorry sight was reported, but a lack of available Fisheries and Wildlife officers hampered any attempt to save the seal, cease its pain or alleviate the distress caused by the spectacle on Bay users.

Young adult seals and pups are the most susceptible to floating debris because of their small size and natural curiosity. A plastic bag can easily be mistaken for prey such as squid or jellyfish, and once swallowed, it can choke, injure or starve the animal to death. A similar fate awaits seals that become entangled in a collar of netting or twine. As they grow, the collar becomes tighter and cuts into their throat. They are either permanently maimed, suffer a painful death as their wounds become infected, or starve because of their restricted swimming and feeding capabilities.

In response to the growing prominence of plastic products as a major cause of seal deaths, the Marine Mammal Department at the Melbourne Zoo is working with some local manufacturers on waste minimisation and community education programs. Part of this collaboration involves researching and developing photo-biodegradable materials that will not become permanent environmental fixtures. Given that plastics have become the modern day version of harpoons and clubs, and are the 'weapons' of suburban hunters who are oblivious to the cruel and out of sight ramifications of their carelessness, these programs represent an important investment in the future well-being of Victoria's marine ecosystems.

Instances of seals being killed or maimed by gunshot wounds are also becoming more prevalent within Port Phillip Bay. Whether people do this for 'fun', 'sport' or is a product of shallow greed (e.g. fishermen protecting their nets), it is a cruel and unnecessary occurrence. To add to the problem, some tour operators will have no hesitation putting their passengers in the water to swim with injured seals. These resilient marine mammals deserve greater respect than this. One seal that was shot initially survived by inhabiting the sheltered waters close to shore and accepting scraps from local fishermen. As it slowly recovered from its wounds, it started to venture further offshore. Unfortunately, its desperate quest for survival turned out to be futile as its body was later discovered with fresh wounds that were attributed to a shark attack. Although it was admitted afterwards that the seal was actually killed by a boat propeller, it was perhaps easier for people to dismiss the seal's ultimate and brutal death as 'nature's way' rather than having to accept the blame themselves.

Treating an injured seal is not a matter of simply capturing it and taking it somewhere to be rehabilitated. A variety of complicating factors must be considered. For example, seals can only be captured if they are on land. Using sedatives or nets to get an injured seal off a structure at sea is not an option because the animal is likely to drown if it escapes into the water. The age and size of the seal are also major considerations. If a large adult is discovered severely injured, there is little choice but to destroy it. Marine mammal experts agree that such animals are too dangerous to even approach, and the best and most humane thing to do is to put an end to its suffering. Seals up to two years of age are generally capable of being captured, but it can only be done when they are too sick and weak to resist. Some members of the public, not knowing the physiological differences between a seal and a dolphin, will take it upon themselves to help an injured seal by doing things like throwing water over it or trying to force it back into the water. Not only do they risk being attacked, but they may also drown the seal because unlike a dolphin, it does not need to be in the water to survive. If an injured seal has come ashore, it has done so because it is too weak to swim. The best thing the public can do is to leave it alone and contact the appropriate authorities.

Between 1988 and 1999, 46 injured Australian Fur Seals have been captured in Victoria and brought to the Melbourne Zoo for rehabilitation. From this number, 14 died on arrival (or were euthanised because they were in such a bad condition), 6 died within 9 days, while a further 2 died at a later date. However, it is a true testament to the resilience of these marine mammals and the devotion of the Melbourne Zoo staff that 20 have been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Although it is preferable to do this as soon as possible, some seals have wounds that are so severe that they need constant attention, and by the time they are well enough to swim again, they have become dependent on humans and therefore cannot be released. One such seal, 'Silva', is now a permanent resident at the Melbourne Zoo, and her external scars are a very powerful reminder to visitors of the potential repercussions of floating debris. But Silva is one of the lucky ones, as literally hundreds of Australian Fur Seals continue to die in Victorian waters because of human-related impacts.

Despite the obvious pressures on the seals in Port Phillip Bay from pollution, tourism and the public, there are no immediate plans to address them by improving the level of regulation or monitoring. While the Bay's dolphin population has enjoyed significant political and public support for many years, the seals have never had this luxury and are suffering because of it. So why are seals treated as 'nature's second-class citizens'? Both dolphins and seals are threatened marine mammals with popular reputations as cute, playful and inquisitive animals. But there remains a definite difference in human attitudes towards their respective plights. One of the reasons for this may be because dolphins, and their renowned intelligence and characterisations, are more reminiscent of humans and are therefore afforded a higher protection priority. In contrast, the strong and distinctive smell of a seal is probably too much of a reminder for some people that they are wild animals, and contributes to a less sympathetic public image. Although the 'worth' of an animal should never be based on its human-like attributes, it is hard to ignore how much public outcry there is when there are reports of dolphins being harassed, injured or killed, and how comparatively little occurs when similar incidents are experienced by seals. This may sound like an extraordinarily superficial basis for discriminating between two species of marine mammals, but it is typical of today's material society. We are infatuated with commodities that are the most fashionable, the most marketable and the most unique, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that we have little qualm with applying such discerning standards to the natural world.

The declining integrity of Port Phillip Bay's Australian Fur Seal population illustrates how this species seems to be one of the most prominent victims of human excess, ignorance and carelessness. The injuries and deaths that they sustain each year are nothing short of gruesome and cruel, but because they live in the shadow of one of the 'icons' of the natural world, it is hard for them to compete for political and public attention. The unfortunate reality is that image plays a very important role in dictating protection priorities, and although this is a form of 'discrimination', it will only be challenged if the public is willing to give this 'second-class' species a greater voice in the political arena.