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Subantarctic Fur-seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis)

The Subantarctic fur seal is a marine mammal that breeds on Macquarie Island, with vagrant animals recorded on Tasmanian and mainland Australian beaches. Rocky coastal breeding areas and tussock slopes used for resting are the key habitats on land.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Vulnerable.

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

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: 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

Breeding and pupping occur from October to January at rocky breeding shores, with pupping peaking in mid-December.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Breeding season: Breeding and pupping occur from October to January at rocky breeding shores, with pupping peaking in mid-December.

Identification: Appearance

Adults have creamy to yellow-orange colouring across the chest, face and muzzle, contrasting with a darker back. Males are larger and have a crest of long hair on the crown; females are smaller and lack this crest.

Adults have creamy to yellow-orange colouring across the chest, face and muzzle, contrasting with a darker back. Males are larger and have a crest of long hair on the crown; females are smaller and lack this crest.

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

In Australia, the only established breeding colony is on Macquarie Island. Vagrants have been recorded on Tasmania, the mainland and offshore islands, including records from New South Wales to Western Australia.

In Australia, the only established breeding colony is on Macquarie Island. Vagrants have been recorded on Tasmania, the mainland and offshore islands, including records from New South Wales to Western Australia.

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

When ashore, Subantarctic fur seals use rocky coastal habitats for breeding, including cobblestone and boulder coves. They also rest on tussock slopes above beaches.

When ashore, Subantarctic fur seals use rocky coastal habitats for breeding, including cobblestone and boulder coves. They also rest on tussock slopes above beaches.

Foraging habitat: Diet

They feed on myctophid fish and squid, and may also take crustaceans and occasionally penguins or other seabirds.

They feed on myctophid fish and squid, and may also take crustaceans and occasionally penguins or other seabirds.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Subantarctic fur seals breed in large shore-based rookeries. Males defend harems, and females give birth to pups during the breeding period.

Subantarctic fur seals breed in large shore-based rookeries. Males defend harems, and females give birth to pups during the breeding period.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Outside breeding, seals use tussock slopes above beaches as resting areas. They also haul out on islands to rest and moult.

Outside breeding, seals use tussock slopes above beaches as resting areas. They also haul out on islands to rest and moult.

Threats: Threats

Commercial sealing historically reduced the species substantially. Climate change and overfishing are identified as potential concerns for fur seals, and the species may be vulnerable to disease following a population bottleneck.

Commercial sealing historically reduced the species substantially. Climate change and overfishing are identified as potential concerns for fur seals, and the species may be vulnerable to disease following a population bottleneck.

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