The seal found on a remote Fiji island last week is protected under the country's Endangered Species Act, the Government said.
The mystery seal found on the rocks at Rukua in Beqa, Fiji. Photo: Fiji Ministry of Fisheries
Environment Secretary Joshua Wycliffe said fur seals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as an Appendix II listed species.
Wycliffe said the seals are also regulated and protected under Fiji's Endangered and Protected Species Act (2002) administered by the Ministry of Environment.
He said the ministry welcomed the visitor and reminded the people on Beqa Island to keep at least 20 metres between themselves and the creature.
Villagers are also urged not to feed the sea mammal.
Wycliffe said fur seals are resilient and capable of finding their way back home.
"If it is from New Zealand, it would have had to swim a total of 1478.05 nautical miles to reach our shores," he said. "Given time and space, fur seals usually find their way back home."
.. Photo: Supplied
Meanwhile, villagers on Beqa say the fur seal is tame.
A chief, Ratu Seru Matanababa, told local media they are fully aware of the advice from the government not to feed the seal and to keep a safe distance.
But despite the advisories, some villagers have visited the site where the seal was found - on rocks along the shoreline at Rukua Village - and taking pictures that have been posted on social media.
Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau, said due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, gathering additional information on the seal's arrival on Beqa had been limited.
He urged the villagers not to harm the seal which is protected under Fiji's environment laws.
