Ile des Phoques

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Ile des Phoques
Ile des Phoques seen from the North.jpg
Seen from the north
Australia Tasmania location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ile des Phoques
Geography
LocationEast coast of Tasmania
ArchipelagoSchouten Island Group
Adjacent bodies of water Tasman Sea
Area8 ha (20 acres)
Administration
Australia
State Tasmania
Local government area Glamorgan Spring Bay Council
Additional information
Time zone
  Summer (DST)

Ile des Phoques (also called Isle du Phoques) is a rugged granite island, with an area of 8 ha, part of the Schouten Island Group, lying close to the eastern coast of Tasmania, Australia near the Freycinet Peninsula.

Seal hunting took place here from at least 1805. [1] Captain James Kelly is recorded sealing here during his 1816 circumnavigation of Tasmania. [2]

It is a nature reserve. [3]

Fauna

Recorded breeding seabird species are little penguin, short-tailed shearwater, fairy prion and common diving-petrel. White-bellied sea-eagles have nested on the island. Australian fur seals haul-out there and there is historical evidence that it was once a major breeding colony. [3]

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References

  1. Kostoglou, Parry (1996). Sealing in Tasmania historical research project. Hobart: Parks and Wildlife Service. pp. 72–4.
  2. Kostoglou, p.73.
  3. 1 2 Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN   0-7246-4816-X

Coordinates: 42°24′S148°09′E / 42.400°S 148.150°E / -42.400; 148.150