Swimmers to get up close with sea lions as State Government announces trial with Jurien Bay businesses

A trial which will allow people to swim close to sea lions with licensed operators in Jurien Bay is set to start, after the State Government announced it would be working with three local businesses to provide the experience. The trial, which is set to begin in coming months, will see swimmers allowed to get up to 10m from sea lions off Jurien Bay, as well as seals at Shoalwater Islands Marine Park in Rockingham. Under current rules, swimmers have to stay 50m away from sea lions in the water, but the trial will see the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions provide licenses to operators Turquoise Safaris, Jurien Bay Oceanic Experience and Lobster Shack to oversee tours in which swimmers can get much closer. The trial had initially been set to launch during the summer of 2022-23 after being announced in September. DBCA is in the final stages of finalising licensing conditions, and if the trial is successful the system will transition to a licensed industry, similar to humpback whale and whale shark tours in the Ningaloo, the Government has said. Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the trial would be carefully managed, with training required for operators and size limits on tours. “Our biodiversity laws are there to protect wildlife, and this trial will allow licensed operators to manage human interactions with sea lions safely and ethically, respecting their natural behaviours,” he said. Tourism Minister Roger Cook added: “This is a fantastic tourism opportunity that could pave the way for a new licensed industry that will complement Ningaloo’s popular humpback and whale shark swim tours.” Kane Krollig of Turqoise Safaris said he was confident the trial would lead to some quality experiences. “You can only experience this around the West Coast-South Australia region so we’re very luck yo be able to do this,” he said. “Safety has always been our number one concern, not only for the sea lions but for the people that join the tours.”