Ile des Phoques

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]

References

Kostoglou, Parry (1996). Sealing in Tasmania historical research project. Hobart: Parks and Wildlife Service. pp. 72–4.
Kostoglou, p.73.
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

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[1] Kostoglou, Parry (1996). Sealing in Tasmania historical research project. Hobart: Parks and Wildlife Service. pp. 72–4.

[2] Kostoglou, p.73.

[Brothers2001-3] 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