Authorities crack down on illegal seal feeding at Hout Bay Harbour

The illegal feeding and harassment of Cape fur seals at Hout Bay Harbour has been an ongoing problem for years.

Now, authorities are cracking down on the practice, often carried out by locals to get money from visitors.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA reports that it executed a coordinated operation at the Harbour recently, together with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement teams.

Following weeks of intelligence gathering and meticulous planning, the joint operation resulted in four arrests, it says.

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Three people were arrested for the illegal feeding and harassment of seals, in contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) and the Threatened or Protected Marine Species Regulations.

A fourth person was arrested for obstructing a DFFE official in the execution of their duties.

The illegal feeding of seals is not a harmless act but a serious offence under the law, the local SPCA emphasises.

South Africa's Biodiversity Act prohibits any restricted activity involving a threatened or protected species – such as feeding, harassing, or encouraging others to interact with wild animals – without a valid permit. 

Violating the regulations carries hefty penalties including up to 5 years imprisonment or fines of up to R5 million for a first offence, and up to R10 million or 10 years’ imprisonment for repeat offenders.

The illegal feeders at Hout Bay Harbour have developed a pattern of exploiting tourists – charging money for selfies with seals and encouraging people to touch them, says the SPCA.

"In many instances, tourists are verbally threatened or harassed if they do not pay. This dangerous and exploitative behaviour has led to numerous seal bite incidents, which can result in serious injury, infection, or even death."

A task team will be carrying out ongoing enforcement over the next few months, the SPCA says, particularly during the festive season when there is high tourist activity at the Harbour.

This includes spot checks, undercover surveillance, and uniformed patrols.