Those who encounter a seal are advised to give it space – any less than 20 metres is a breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act. Boren said anyone who does come across a seal should try to not walk or stand between the mammal and the sea, and should never try to feed it. While trying to feed the animals can prove very dangerous – seals can be very aggressive if they feel threatened – it can also lead to them becoming too accustomed to humans and their food, meaning they are less likely to return to a normal life at sea.
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The Moncks Bay section was left until last because it was the most expensive, at $19,750 per metre. Christchurch City Council planning and delivery transport manager Lynette Ellis said the final section of pathway is through a complex and constrained environment, with significant engineering and consenting challenges. Up to 100m of the path could be cantilevered out over the Avon Heathcote estuary, but actual details would not be known until detailed designs were completed, Ellis said. The Linwood Central Heathcote community board decided on Monday to approve design changes made following community consultation late last year. It has given Christchurch City Council staff the go ahead to proceed with the detailed design and construction phase.