Poster Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association 2026 Conference

Navigating Shared Seas: Spatial Overlap of Seals and Offshore Wind Farms in Southern Australia (139693)

Marissa Hutchings 1 , Roger Kirkwood 1 , Simon Goldsworthy 1 , John Arnould 2 , Rob Harcourt 3 4 , Rebecca McIntosh 5 , Marcus Salton 3 6 , Benjamin Pitcher 3 7 , David Slip 7
  1. Aquatic Sciences, South Australian Research and Development Institute, West Beach, SA, Australia
  2. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
  3. School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
  4. IMOS Animal Tracking Facility, Sydney Institute for Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
  5. Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, VIC, Australia
  6. Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, Tasmanian Government, Hobart, TAS, Australia
  7. Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Understanding how marine predators use space in regions targeted for offshore wind farm (OWF) development is essential for minimising ecological impacts. In this study, we compiled one of the largest multi‑decadal telemetry datasets for Australian seals, integrating 25 years of GPS and Argos tracking data from Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) and long‑nosed fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) across 8 and 12 sites respectively. State‑space models were applied to reconstruct movement paths, from which time‑in‑area metrics and generalised additive models were employed to predict relative habitat use across both species’ ranges in southern Australia. These predictions were then intersected with all presently declared OWF areas to quantify spatial overlap, assess enrichment relative to available habitat, and estimate potential seal densities within OWF areas by scaling to population size. Seal foraging ranges overlapped with all OWF areas, with the greatest overlap occurring for Australian fur seals in the Bass Strait region. This work supports impact minimisation strategies for OWF development and underscores the need for continued satellite tracking and long‑term monitoring of seals. Such research will be essential for managing anthropogenic pressures and cumulative stressors on seal populations.