Page 297 - Atlas Sea Birds Ver1

2.3.3 South African Cape Fur Seal colonies and their
status, 1971–2020

Authors: SM Seakamela, SA McCue, MA Meÿer, and PGH Kotze

Abstract:
Cape Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) have bred at 33 colonies in South Africa, of which 28 were extant in 2022. They also
hauled out at three other sites, where pupping was not recorded. These 36 sites are briefly described, commencing in the northwest and
moving south and east around the South African coast. Aerial photographic surveys were conducted at intervals of about three years
from 1972 to 2020 to ascertain numbers of pups born at different colonies. These counts are tabulated, together with intermediate counts,
where available. The chapter updates an assessment of numbers and trends of seals in South Africa made for the period 1971–2009. Six
mainland colonies (Noup, Sammy’s Bay, Cape Donkin, Cape Point, Romans Bay, Cape Infanta) were discovered since then. Numbers
of pups counted on photographs increased from c. 70,000 in 1971 to fluctuate around a level of c. 120,000 from 1982 to 2020. Cape Fur
Seals are of Least Concern in South Africa.
Introduction:
The Cape Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) breeds annually from November to early January, with a peak in births during the
first half of December (David 1987, De Villiers and Roux 1992). Its breeding habitat should be suitable for pups and maternal pup
attendance, exposed to cooling winds to avoid hyperthermia, while providing protection from heavy seas, adverse weather and predators
(Stewardson et al. 2012, Trites 1990). Hence, the majority of the species’ colonies were historically at near-shore rocky islands (David
and Van Sittert 2008). However, there are now several mainland breeding colonies in South Africa that are situated in remote areas. The
largest breeding colony by pup production (Kleinsee) is on the mainland within a diamond mine that has restricted access.
Previously, a Cape Fur Seal breeding colony was defined as a location where more than 100 pups were counted annually on a regular
basis (Oosthuizen and David 1988). However, in recent times, it became evident that some new colonies had no prospect of producing
more than 100 pups per year because of insufficient breeding space (small rocks or steep cliffs), unsuitable habitat (low lying rocks)
or direct human disturbance. In the former instances, Cape Fur Seals attempted to breed on a rock in Grotto Bay and on steep slopes
at Cape Point. Less than seven pups per year were born at these localities since 2017. An unsuccessful attempt by Cape Fur Seals to
establish a substantial mainland breeding colony on the west coast near Elands Bay was attributed to human disturbance there. For the
purposes of this review, colonies were defined as “breeding” if pups were born at any time during the period under review (e.g. Bradshaw
et al. 2000).
Although the overall South African population is stable, six small colonies were formed to the south of Kleinsee in the past 12 years.
Given the collapse of sardine (Sardinops sagax), a preferred prey item, on the west coast in the early 21st century and shifts to the
southeast of sardine and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), another important prey species, at the same time (van der Lingen et al. 2006),
the new southern colonies could be a response to a mismatch between the northern locations of some seal colonies and the southern
displacement of these prey resources.

Conservation Table 1. Totals of pups counted on the more complete
surveys of colonies increased from c. 70,000 in 1971
In South Africa, Cape Fur Seals were harvested until 1990 to fluctuate around a level of 120,000 from 1982 to 2020,
when a moratorium on sealing was imposed (Wickens et with a peak of c. 147,000 in 2011 and c. 106,000 in 2020
al. 1991). Until then, their only protection was through the (Table 1). Cape Fur Seals are considered to be Least
regulation of harvesting quotas undertaken in terms of the Concern in South Africa (Kirkman et al. 2016).
Seabirds and Seals Protection Act (SBSPA; Act no. 46 of
1973). In 1998, commercial harvesting of Cape Fur Seals Description of Cape Fur Seal colonies and their status
was prohibited in terms of the Marine Living Resources
Act (Act no. 18 of 1998; Kirkman et al. 2016), as later also Thirty-six localities in South Africa at which Cape Fur Seals
stip- ulated in the Policy on the Management of Seals, have bred or hauled out (Figure 1) are briefly described
Seabirds and Shorebirds (Government Gazette No. below. Some pups were observed at all but three of these
30534, 2007). The SBSPA was repealed in 2017 following sites (V&A Waterfront, Strawberry Rocks, Partridge Point),
promulgation of the Threatened Or Protected Marine which were classed as non-breeding and included on
Species (TOPS) Regulations (Government Gazette account of their interest (other haul-out sites exist). Few-
No. 40876, 2017) under the National Environmental er than 50 pups occurred at eight localities, which were
Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No. 10 of 2004). classed as limited breeding. Five former colonies of seals
Some breeding colonies are further protected by virtue in South Africa are extinct: Robbe, Robben, Beacon, St
of their location within national parks or nature reserves, Croix and Seal (Algoa Bay) islands. Others became extinct
as indicated in the “colony” text below. Numbers of but were recolonised, Dassen Island as recently as 2022
pups recorded at South African colonies on surveys (PGK unpubl.). The localities are ordered from north to
conducted between 1971 and 2020 are shown in south and east around the South African coast.

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