Doc talks with man who stabbed sea lion

The Department of Conservation is working to fully understand what happened after a Dunedin man stabbed a sea lion last month.

On December 27, Matt Kraemer stabbed a sea lion after it had followed him and his partner through the water for half an hour and on to a Dunedin beach.

Doc acting Otago and Southland operations manager Craig Wilson said it had met Mr Kraemer and the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust to gain a better understanding of what happened.

Doc also provided advice to Mr Kraemer ‘‘regarding how to avoid interactions with sea lions and minimise risk to people and wildlife whether on land or in the water’’.

Mr Wilson said further information could not be provided while work on the matter continued.

‘‘We are lucky to share our coastline with an increasing number of sea lions, which are a highly threatened species and are protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act.

‘‘By giving sea lions space, avoiding interacting with them, and quietly backing off if they show interest in us, we can ensure that both people and sea lions stay safe and happily share our coast.’’