DOC's work with fur seal

Clipping fur (for tagging) of New Zealand
fur seal pup, Open Bay Islands

Population monitoring by DOC occurs at three West Coast colonies and research is being carried out to determine the distribution and abundance of this species. The impacts of tourism are being investigated at three key sites: Tonga Island, Kaikoura and Banks Peninsula.

One of the main threats for this species is incidental take in fisheries and so DOC is aiming to manage and reduce fishing related mortality, particularly in the West Coast South Island hoki trawl fishery.