- A wild seal has bitten a charter boat skipper at a boat ramp on the NSW coast
- John Moore said the seal came up from behind and bit him on the leg
- He blames fishermen who feed the seals for ‘training’ them to be aggressive
- Authorities are advising people to stop feeding the seals and to stay away
A wild seal has bitten a man at a boat ramp on the New South Wales south coast, as authorities warn anglers to stay away from the mammals for fear of repeat attacks.
The seal bit charter boat skipper John Moore on Sunday at the Apex Park boat ramp in Narooma.
Mr Moore told the Narooma News the seal came up from behind and bit him on the leg.
The seal bit charter boat skipper John Moore on Sunday at the Apex Park boat ramp in Narooma
The bite required hospital treatment and a dose of antibiotics, and the victim is blaming a group of young fishermen who were feeding seals what was left of their hauls
The bite required hospital treatment and a dose of antibiotics, and the victim is blaming a group of young fishermen who were feeding seals what was left of their hauls.
‘A word of advice to fishos – don’t feed the seals,’ he said.
‘This seal bit me because I wasn’t carrying food for him, others had fed him earlier and he has been ‘trained’, and will only get more aggressive now.’
Mr Moore said other people have been bitten at the boat ramp.
National Parks and Wildlife Services are monitoring seal and human behaviour at the boat ramp.
They were also be monitoring an injured bull seal which was found on the footpath at the Narooma wharf.
National Parks and volunteers from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia are advising people to stay away from seals at fish cleaning tables and on footpaths.
National Parks and Wildlife Services are monitoring seal and human behaviour at the boat ramp
A National Parks spokesperson said they were working with the council and the Department of Primary Industries to reduce the conflict between anglers and seals at the boat ramp.
‘It is important to remind people to not feed the seals or encourage them in any way as this can lead to conflict,’ they said.
‘People are reminded to give seals plenty of space and respect areas that have been cordoned off the safety of both the public and the seal.’
National Parks and volunteers from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia are advising people to stay away from seals at fish cleaning tables and on footpaths