???1;Close to a thousand fur seals have starved to death since September on the Kaikoura coastline

While seal deaths do occur after winter, such a large number has never been documented before in New Zealand.

The Department of Conservation says starvation in high numbers is an indication of a wider shift happening in the ocean.

Dr Jody Weir says this is particularly unusual as fur seals are generalist feeders and consume a varied diet.

She says the fact they're still starving, and aren't shifting to eating something else, is a sign we have depleted certain aspects of the ocean.