Established December 1, 1971 | Area 4.04 km² | |
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Seal Bay Aquatic Reserve is a marine protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in waters off the south coast of Kangaroo Island immediately adjoining and including the intertidal zone within the locality of Seal Bay whose full extent is occupied by the Seal Bay Conservation Park.
It was declared on 30 November 1971 as the Seal Beach Aquatic Reserve for the purpose of ‘the protection of a major breeding colony of the Australian sea lion’. The following activities are prohibited in the aquatic reserve - access to waters adjoining Seal Bay by members of the public, fishing, and the collection or the removal of any marine organism. The aquatic reserve covers the full extent of the coastal frontage of Seal Bay and extends seaward a distance of about 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) covering an area of 4.04 square kilometres (1.56 sq mi). Its extent includes the waters around Nobby Islet. It is bounded by the Bales Beach Aquatic Reserve to its immediate east.
Since 2012, it has been located within the boundaries of a “restricted access zone” within the Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park.
The aquatic reserve is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area.