What’s on the menu?

Australian Fur Seals have a varied diet that changes with age and experience. Pups rely mostly on their mum’s milk for at least 6 months, after which they have to learn to find food to supplement their diet, and more importantly, to learn how to hunt! Juvenile seals often start out targeting small, slow-moving prey such as squid and baitfish, building their hunting skills gradually. Adults, especially dominant males and breeding females, are capable of pursuing more elusive prey like schooling fish, cephalopods, and even small sharks!

Their menu includes species like redbait, jack mackerel, pilchards, and arrow squid. This dietary flexibility helps them thrive in dynamic marine environments.

Masters of the Midwater Hunt

Fur seals are highly skilled hunters, favouring the midwater zone of the ocean. While they can dive as deep as 200 metres, most feeding dives are shallower, often between 40 and 100 metres. They rely on agility and surprise, darting through schools of fish or snatching prey from below.

Their sensory toolkit is impressive. Excellent underwater vision, sensitive whiskers (called vibrissae) that detect vibrations, and acute hearing all help them locate prey even in low light or murky conditions. These adaptations make them effective hunters in the ever-changing Bass Strait.

Threats in a Human-Altered Ocean

Despite their prowess, fur seals face real threats. Entanglement in discarded fishing gear and marine debris is one of the most pressing issues at Seal Rocks. Plastic pollution, oil spills, and competition with commercial fisheries also pose risks to their food supply and health.

Climate change may further alter the distribution of prey species, forcing seals to travel farther or work harder to find food. Monitoring and conservation efforts are essential to safeguard the future of this iconic species.

So next time you’re out at Seal Rocks, take a moment to appreciate the hunting talents of these sleek marine predators. There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye!