Underwater fire crackers could be trialled off the South Australian coast to scare away seals attacking wildlife and disrupting fishers.
SA Environment Minister Ian Hunter says culling the long-nosed fur seals, as proposed by Liberal MP Adrian Pederick, isn't an option.
"Experience from overseas fisheries has shown selective culling is ineffective, as removing one seal means that another will simply move in to take advantage of the available food," he said on Wednesday.
The seal population has returned to pre-European levels, after nearly being wiped out in the 19th century.
But Mr Pederick has said the seals were causing problems for other wildlife and the Coorong fishery, on the state's south-east coast.
Mr Hunter announced on Wednesday $100,000 worth of funding for "non-lethal" and "humane" ways to scare off the seals, such as underwater fire crackers known as seal scarers.
"We are committed to working with the fishers to ensure its long-term, sustainable survival," Mr Hunter said.
"There is no reason that we cannot have healthy fisheries while also protecting the native animals that are such a drawcard for tourists to South Australia."
Conservation SA has called for an observation program to gather information about the seals' effects on wildlife and the Coorong.
"We need to be looking at how we as humans can change our behaviour first before we try to force wild animals to change what comes naturally to them or try to get rid of them altogether", chief executive Craig Wilkins said.
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