Pup production and breeding areas of Australian fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus at Kanowna Island and the Skerries in northeastern Bass Strait

摘要: THE breeding distribution of the Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) is restricted to offshore islands in Bass Strait, southeastern Australia (Warneke and Shaughnessy 1985). Breeding colonies are currently established on only nine but there historical evidence suggest that several other within Strait once accommodated sites 1982). Prior largescale commercial hunting (1798-1825), annual total A. p. doriferus pup production estimated have been between 20,000 – 50,000 these numbers were severely reduced as a result overexploitation