The Southern Ocean - Fur seals, Tasman Island
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The Southern Ocean
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Introduction
The Southern Ocean, which circles the globe without being blocked by land, is home to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the longest of the world's ocean currents. Also known as the "channel", it connects the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins and exerts a powerful influence over the Earth's climate. The ACC carries 150 times more water around Antarctica than the flow of all the world's rivers combined.
Fur seals, Tasman Island
Overview
Hunted to the brink of extinction last century, the Australian fur seal is now a protected species and the fourth rarest seal species. But numbers are recovering and large colonies can be found on Tasman Island.
The greatest threat to fur seals is not their natural predators, such as white sharks or killer whales, but humans. Their natural curiosity means that they can often get tangled in manmade marine debris such as fishing nets or packaging straps. These get caught around the seals' necks, slowly strangling them as they grow.
| Importance: | The Australian fur seal seems to be recovering from the brink of extinction. Their recovery will be quicker if the oceans are kept clean. |
| Dive category: | Australian fur seals are a protected species, so it is not adviasable to swim with them in Tasmania. |
| Access: | There are several organised boat tours available to see the seal colonies around southern Tasmania. Tour campanies organise swimming or diving with fur seals at Port Phillip Bay on mainland Australia. |
Interesting for
- The world's fourth-rarest seal species
- Australian fur seal factfile.
- Australian fur seal
- Spectacular coastal scenery of Tasman Island
- The highlights of Tasman National Park.
- Tasman National Park
BBC related content
- Oceans presenter biography: Tooni Mahto
- Oceans presenter biography: Lucy Blue
- Oceans 360° experience: Seals in 360°
- Oceans image gallery: The Southern Ocean
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