Characteristics of marine debris that entangle Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) in southern Australia

• Plastic rope/twine and monofilament are the most common items entangling fur seals.
• Seals get entangled in green items more than other colours.
• Younger seals are entangled more often than adults.

Marine debris is a global issue that can have devastating impacts on marine mammals. To understand the types of materials that result in entanglement and thus the potential impact of entangling items on marine wildlife, we analysed data collected from items in which Australian fur seals had been entangled in southern Victoria, Australia over a 15 year period. From 1997 to 2012, 138 entangling items were removed from seals. The majority of these entanglements were plastic twine or rope, and seals were entangled in green items more than in any other colour. In general, younger seals were more likely to be entangled than adults. Understanding the effects of marine debris entanglement on the Australian fur seal population can lead to more effective management of the sources of debris and the wildlife that interact with it.