The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation co-hosted an exciting Seal-Human Conflict Conference

When humans and wild animals cross paths in urban frontiers like the V&A Waterfront, finding the best methods to work together to avoid conflict and achieve harmony is the absolute priority. Collaboration proved key at the Seal-Human Conflict Workshop held on 23 and 24 July 2024 - let's look at what was covered.

Hosted by the City of Cape Town in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, and Sea Search, this exciting workshop brought together experts in the field of marine wildlife who focussed on assessing the increase in unprovoked hostility among Cape fur seals.

Cape fur seals are an iconic part of the Western Cape coastline; their large colonies are a huge drawcard for tourism. Within the V&A Waterfront precinct, Cape fur seals are regular visitors - the Two Oceans Aquarium Seal Platforms serve as a safe space for seals to rest and allow tourists to observe their antics. While seals and humans typically live peacefully alongside one another, our Marine Wildlife Management Programme exists to mitigate any potential conflicts in the V&A Waterfront.

Recently, however, there have been a few highly unusual incidences of seals displaying unprovoked aggressive behaviour towards beachgoers and snorkelers. The discovery of a few cases of rabies in the seal population caused quite a stir, forcing many tour operators to halt their workings temporarily. This rapid decline in tourism has put pressure on the City of Cape Town and marine organisations to find a solution to this challenging situation. From the first discovered cases of rabies in the Cape fur seal population, it has been clear that the only way forward will rely on a collaborative effort between multiple marine organisations.

The recent workshop, held at the Two Oceans Aquarium, was an opportunity to bring together seal experts from along the South African coastline and beyond, from Namibia and Australia. With these informed voices gathered in person and online, the workshop created a generative space and opportunity for valuable collaborative discussion.

"The diverse backgrounds and expertise of the attendees enhanced discussions, facilitating comprehensive insight into the complexities of global seal populations, health, and behaviour. This had a huge impact on the outcomes of the workshop,” reflected Martine Viljoen, who is part of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Marine Wildlife Management Programme.

She continued: “Overall, this workshop was a valuable opportunity to collaborate with leading experts in the field, reinforcing the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to wildlife management and developing actionable plans that prioritise both human safety and seal welfare."

Naude Dreyer, co-founder of Ocean Conservation Namibia, agrees: "It was an honour and privilege to be able to attend the conference. Being the only Namibian representative present, I felt a sense of responsibility towards the 1,4 million seals we have on our coastline. I made some incredible new connections and finally met many colleagues with whom I've only dealt online till now. If this is the combined brainpower working towards the current issues, I believe we're in the best possible hands."

Cape Town has the privilege of being home to a diversity of wildlife in an urban city. You can encounter a seal while exploring the V&A Waterfront, a penguin crossing the road, or a cormorant eyeing your meal. In the collaborative effort of the Seal-Human Conflict Conference, it was clear that organisations and individuals working within the intersection of urban wildlife management are committed to finding solutions and celebrating the unique diversity of the urban wildlife on our doorstep.

These principles are the core of the work of our Marine Wildlife Management Programme - not only is our team dedicated to the welfare of the incredible species that frequent the precinct, but also to raising environmental awareness and highlighting actionable steps for their preservation.