Page 291 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

Wolf Bay and Atlas Bay North Reef in the Possession Island group
Coordinates: Wolf 26.81 S; 15.12 E; Atlas 26.82 S; Coordinates: 27.00 S; 15.19 E
15.13 E Description: A small island north of Possession Island.
Description: Two large mainland colonies established on Conservation status: Activities are controlled at and
rocky shores. They are merely a kilometre apart and are around the island as it falls within NIMPA (Currie et al.
located in the vicinity of the Lüderitz coastal upwelling 2009, Ludynia et al. 2012).
cell (Bakun 1996). In 1993, > 100,000 pups were born at Ecotourism: None currently.
Atlas and Wolf bays but this decreased to < 30,000 in Harvesting status: There is currently no commercial har-
2018 (Table 1). The decrease was related to changes in vesting of seals.
the abundance and composition of prey species (Kirkman Note: Excavations undertaken by South Africa’s Depart-
et al. 2007, 2013). ment of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE,
Conservation status: Apart from harvests, the colonies unpublished information) showed that seals formerly bred
are fully protected as they fall within the Tsau //Khaeb at Possession Island (27.013 S; 15.194 E), the main island
(Sperrgebiet) National Park (MEFT 2020) as well as with- in the group. They have not bred there since the 1960s
in a proclaimed diamond mining area (NAMDEB), which or earlier (Rand 1963). Possession Island was formerly
strictly restricts human access. the base for sealing at Long and Sinclair islands (Rand
Ecotourism: There is potential for land-based tourism; 1963).
however, the site is not yet accessible to visitors as it falls
within a mining area. Albatross Rock
Harvesting status: The earliest recorded seal harvests at Coordinates: 27.12 S; 15.24 E
Wolf and Atlas bays were in 1937 (David and Van Sittert Description: A steep, elongated rocky island.
2008). The first seal harvesting concession for these bays Conservation status: Activities at and around the island
was granted in 1947, when a quota of about 30,000 year- are controlled as it falls within NIMPA (Currie et al. 2009,
lings (and no adults) was allocated to the concessionaires Ludynia et al. 2012).
(Shaughnessy 1978). A long-term concession for Wolf and Ecotourism: None currently.
Atlas bays was negotiated in 1974, when quotas were Harvesting status: The first concession was granted
generally introduced into contracts as they were renewed in 1974 with a quota of 1,500 yearlings and 400 adults
(Shaughnessy 1978). At present controlled, commercial (Shaughnessy 1978). There is currently no commercial
harvesting of seals.
harvesting of Cape Fur Seals takes place at both the Wolf Note: Kirkman (2009) observed from records in Rand
and Atlas colonies with at least three right holders operat- (1972) and Shaughnessy (1984) that sealers and seals
ing. Historical harvest data for the colonies are shown be- were possibly present on Albatross Rock in the 1820s, but
low (the numbers include yearlings, sub-adults and adults, seals may have been extirpated by hunters before 1843,
irrespective of their sex as they were then difficult to dis- when guano harvests boomed in southern Africa. Seals
tinguish). were then apparently absent until the 20th century. They
were resighted on the island in 1947 (Rand 1972, cited by
Year No. harvested Shaughnessy 1978). Seals then displaced the seabird col-
1973 45,891 onies that had produced the guano (Shaughnessy 1978).
1974 31,506 Historical harvesting data at Albatross Rock are shown
below (the numbers include yearlings, sub-adults and
1975 35,616 adults irrespective of their sex as they were then difficult
1976 30,968 to distinguish).
Shaughnessy (1978) Year No. harvested
1973 224
1975 1,668
1976 1,125
Shaughnessy (1978)

A female Cape fur seal sun-basking at Atlas Bay (photo A view from the north of Albatross Rock, from RV Anichab (photo
DN Mwaala) DB Tom)

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