Swimming with seals

A trial has been proposed at Shoalwater Islands and Jurien Bay marine parks this summer, enabling swimmers to interact with seals, including sea lions.

Seals are protected in WA, with a requirement to keep a minimum distance of 50 metres away from them in the water, 100 metres in a vessel and 10 metres on land.

The draft management program aims to protect the animals and manage their natural curiosity safely and ethically. If the trial is successful, showing that interactions can be safely managed, it will transition to a licensed industry like Ningaloo’s humpback and whale shark swim tours.

The public can have a say until 15 November by visiting this link.