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Australian Sea-lion (Neophoca cinerea)

The Australian Sea Lion is a pinniped endemic to Australia, breeding along the southern and south-western coast from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands to The Pages Islands. It uses coastal islands and some mainland sites, with sandy beaches, rocky platforms and shallow coastal shelf waters important for resting, breeding and foraging.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed marine. A listed marine species under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Killing, injuring, taking or moving it in a Commonwealth area needs a permit.

Seasonal planning

Pups can be born from January to June at Australian sea-lion breeding sites.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Pup birth season: Pups can be born from January to June at Australian sea-lion breeding sites.

Identification: Appearance

It is an eared seal that uses its front flippers to prop itself up on land and its hind flippers to help it move. Adult males can be up to twice the weight and length of females.

It is an eared seal that uses its front flippers to prop itself up on land and its hind flippers to help it move. Adult males can be up to twice the weight and length of females.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

Breeding colonies occur from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia to The Pages Islands in South Australia. Small numbers have also been recorded along the coast of Victoria.

Breeding colonies occur from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia to The Pages Islands in South Australia. Small numbers have also been recorded along the coast of Victoria.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

Sea Lions use coastal islands and some mainland sites, hauling out on sandy beaches and rocky platforms, often in sheltered bays. They forage over the continental shelf, including in waters less than 150 metres deep.

Sea Lions use coastal islands and some mainland sites, hauling out on sandy beaches and rocky platforms, often in sheltered bays. They forage over the continental shelf, including in waters less than 150 metres deep.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Its likely prey includes cephalopods, crustaceans and fish. It searches for food over the continental shelf and dives repeatedly to the sea floor.

Its likely prey includes cephalopods, crustaceans and fish. It searches for food over the continental shelf and dives repeatedly to the sea floor.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

It breeds in colonies, mainly on offshore islands, and has an unusual breeding cycle of about 17 to 18 months. Females give birth to a pup and nurse it for 15 to 18 months, with some nursing lasting longer.

It breeds in colonies, mainly on offshore islands, and has an unusual breeding cycle of about 17 to 18 months. Females give birth to a pup and nurse it for 15 to 18 months, with some nursing lasting longer.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Colonies favour sheltered parts of islands with access to shallow pools where pups can congregate. Females may hide pups in holes or bushes where these are available.

Colonies favour sheltered parts of islands with access to shallow pools where pups can congregate. Females may hide pups in holes or bushes where these are available.

Threats: Threats

Entanglement in fishing nets and crayfish pots is a documented threat, and human disturbance can affect the species, particularly during breeding. Other identified pressures include habitat degradation, pollution and disturbance near haul-outs or feeding areas.

Entanglement in fishing nets and crayfish pots is a documented threat, and human disturbance can affect the species, particularly during breeding. Other identified pressures include habitat degradation, pollution and disturbance near haul-outs or feeding areas.

Threats: Works risk

Works that degrade coastal habitat or disturb haul-outs may affect the species, especially during breeding. In-water development or activity near feeding areas may also pose risks; fishing gear entanglement is a documented threat, and concerns have been raised about fish farms near haul-outs or feeding areas.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the ePBC Act publications, including the National Guidelines for the Survey of Cetaceans, Marine Turtles and the Dugong (2024), read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources