3 August 2016

MEDIA RELEASE

Otago Conservation Board Supports Aims of Sea Lion Threat Management Plan

At its last meeting, the Otago Conservation Board discussed the plight of the New Zealand Sea Lion/Rapoka. It is the rarest sea lion in the world, with a population of approx. 11,800 and is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Distribution of New Zealand Sea Lions is very restricted particularly when compared with other marine mammals. Their primary habitat is several Sub-Antarctic islands, and their surrounding waters. The main breeding sites are in the Auckland Islands, 68%, followed by Campbell Island, Stewart Island then a small breeding population on the Otago coast.

A draft New Zealand Sea Lion Threat Management Plan has been developed in response to concerns around the significant reduction in population size from historical levels. The species is confronting a variety of threats including impacts relating to commercial fishing mainly around the Auckland Islands, climate/fishery mediated nutritional stress, and disturbance on local beaches.

The most significant concern is that since 2005, there has been a 50% reduction in sea lion pups surviving annually in the Auckland Islands, largely due to the ravages of a disease which has become rife. Mortality from this disease has also occurred within the very small population on the Otago coast. Research and monitoring will be critical to going forward.

The vision of the South-East Marine Protection Planning Forum is that “Marine habitats and ecosystems along the South-East Coast are healthy and sustainably productive, and treasured for their biodiversity, integrity and special nature”.

The view of the Otago Conservation Board is that the achievement of this long term aspirational vision, would contribute in a very positive manner to the future of the local populations of this endangered species and that outcomes from the Forum were essential if long-term conservation measures were going to be put in place.

The Board is strongly supportive of efforts to advance and expedite outcomes from the South-east Marine Protection Forum and asked the Department of Conservation to report back to it on the status of this marine mammal.

ENDS

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