Neil the seal has new management plan unveiled

Neil the seal is a southern elephant seal that has been visiting Tasmania twice yearly since his birth on Turrakana/Tasman Peninsula in October 2020.

Neil has become a social media sensation and has attracted crowds during his time ashore.

The Tasmanian government's new management plan includes a minimum approach distance of 30 metres.

New measures to protect Tasmania's favourite elephant seal Neil will require onlookers to stay at least 30 metres away from him when he spends time on land.

The new rules are included in an updated management plan released today.

"Everyone loves Neil, he's very popular, but we've also got to respect Neil," Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.

"We want to ensure we're protecting Neil's safety, of course, and the safety of the community as well."

An interim protection order has also been made under the state's Threatened Species Protection Act to provide "additional legal protections for southern elephant seals and their habitat when they haul out in key coastal areas of southern Tasmania".

The order includes a minimum approach distance of 30 metres, requirements to keep dogs under control and away from seals, restrictions on parking vehicles close to seals, and separation distances for vessels and drones.

Breaching such an order could lead to a conviction and a fine.

The management plan states that "compliance action may be taken where unlawful disturbance, harassment or interference with an elephant seal is identified".

At six years of age, the southern elephant seal known affectionately as "Neil the seal" was estimated to weight around 1,000 kilograms when he last "hauled out" in June and July and spent time in and around south-east Tasmanian coastal communities.

Adult male southern elephant seals can weigh more than 3,000 kilograms.

Since his winter visit, 110,326 people have signed a petition in support of creating restricted access zones around Neil's known habitats, and introducing fines for people who get too close.

The updated management plan, while developed in response to Neil, will also apply to other southern elephant seals.

"We know Tasmanians love Neil and enjoy following his adventures, but Neil is a [member of a] threatened species and wild animal, so it is important we all do our part to keep him safe," Environment Minister Guy Barnett said in a statement.

Mr Barnett said the plan had been informed by scientific advice and consultation with councils, Tasmania Police and other stakeholders.

The new measures come after the premier said in July that his government was not considering strengthening Tasmanian laws.

"Common sense is what is key here; we don't need to legislate for common sense," Mr Rockliff said at the time.

"There are very clear guidelines around Neil the seal: make sure your dogs are leashed, make sure you have at least a 20-metre buffer."

Today, Mr Rockliff said he remained "committed to the fact that we do need a common sense approach around all our wildlife, not just Neil".

"But given the popularity of Neil we do need again those guardrails in place which is why we have the management plan," he said.

Greens MP Cecily Rosol said her party would be "looking at the detail" of the management plan.

"We'll be speaking to local communities and local councils and just assessing that management plan in consultation with communities to make sure that it includes everything it needs to keep Neil the seal safe," she said.

Neil has hauled out twice a year in south-east Tasmania, generally in November-December to moult and in the middle of the year to rest, according to the state's Natural Resources and Environment Department (NRE).

"He has an exceptional public profile that extends well beyond Tasmania, attracting significant local, national and international media coverage, extensive social media engagement and widespread public interest," an NRE document about Neil states.

Neil is expected to continue to return to Tasmania for the rest of his life, but, according to NRE, "his movements and behaviour are becoming increasingly variable", as he has entered the sub-adult stage of life.

Southern elephant seals are a threatened species.

The updated management plan states that while much of the use of Neil's name and image has been positive, and helped enforce conservation and animal welfare messages, there was also "evidence of individuals and businesses seeking to monetise his popularity or commercially exploit his name and identity".

NSW Fair Trading recently fined the operator of a former website that sold Neil the seal merchandise after it found the website "falsely" claimed links with conservation organisations.

Brand Tasmania is working to trademark the "Neil the Seal" identity.

"Securing appropriate trademark protection would strengthen the State's capacity to manage commercial use of the 'Neil the Seal' brand in relation to the goods and services covered by those registrations," the management plan states.

"It would provide a clearer basis for licensing approved commercial uses and, where appropriate, taking action against unauthorised use of the protected trademarks."

Mr Rockliff said local artists would still be able to create Neil the seal merchandise under the trademark.