Scientists responded by adopting a creative mindset in their research on climate change. So far, they have tagged 11 New Zealand fur seals with non-invasive tracking devices. Underwater cameras paired with satellite and VR technology. This new initiative will provide important data on the seals’ movements, habitat use, and the oceanographic environment they live in. In early May, researchers cassette tagged the seals while they were spending their annual moult. This significant event deepens our appreciation for these incredible marine mammals and their positive effect on coastal ecosystems.
The New Zealand fur seals were collaborative partners on this project, selected for their long distance of travel. The tags are made to come off on their own after one year. Over the course of six to ten months, they’ll gather a range of data including location, time, depth, and oceanographic conditions. This data is critical for determining how these animals function in their environment under an increasingly variable climate.
The Tagging Process
Duane March, a marine vet with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW NPWS), assisted in the tagging process. He emphasized the significance of these seals, stating, “The island is synonymous with fur seals.” He further described their appeal and personality, noting they are “very charismatic — they’re effectively wet dogs.”
To minimize disturbance to the seals, the tagging was done with great precision. Those researchers netted the animals from a helicopter to deploy the tracking devices. Project manager of the NSW Ocean Outlook Program at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Isobel Lerpiniere, was bracing for unwanted pressures. She said she was hopeful about the process.
“We’re doing this work to find out more about the animals and the environment that they inhabit,” – Isobel Lerpiniere.
Three months into the program, two have already come loose from the seals. Lerpiniere acknowledged this outcome, saying, “The reality is they’re seals — they’re out and about doing things and they can knock them off.” This serves to underscore not only the extensive challenges, but the unpredictability inherent in wildlife research.
Goals and Implications
The long-term aim of this project, aside from the immediate conservation and animal welfare benefit, is to increase comprehension of the ecological role New Zealand fur seals play. Collecting data on their movement patterns will shed light needed to direct conservation efforts.
Aside from research, Lerpiniere said there are double benefits to seals as research tools. She stated, “By employing seals as oceanographers, we’re simultaneously understanding how their behaviour is changing in the face of climate change so that we can better protect them into the future.” Monitoring these animals will help researchers gather important oceanographic information, too.
This project is not just restricted to New Zealand fur seals. This has involved attaching several different types of satellite tags to 21 marine turtles at multiple foraging locations along the Mid North Coast and near Sydney. Australian fur seals often live in the areas close to the shore. Unlike the species in those other studies, this study’s main subject—New Zealand fur seals—go a lot farther.
Community Engagement
The tagging project has population the state’s tiger shark research from local communities and conservationists. During busy time, peak fugue, is it upwards of 1,000 fur seals that crowd on Barunguba. Their appearance serves as a reminder of just how important these creatures are to our region’s marine ecosystem. The initiative reflects a growing commitment to monitor and protect marine life as environmental conditions evolve.
