It could be said that winter has now truly arrived with a fur seal spotted in the Whitianga area over the weekend.

One eagle eyed SunLive reader captured this great photograph of the languid fur seal taking a quick nap on rock in the Whitianga Harbour on Saturday.

This fur seal has been spotted in the Whitianga harbou over the weekend and today. Photo: supplied

The reader, who has asked not to be named, says the seal was still hanging around the upper harbour today.

'The seal is still there, hanging around the mangrove islands and waterways of the upper harbour.

'It's pretty laid back, kayakers passed within a metre or two before they realised it was there.”

According to the Department of Conservation, the sighting confirms that the winter season has well and truly arrived.

Fur seals are numerous in the Coromandel during winter as they escape harsher conditions further south and locals can expect to see many enjoying local waters and beaches these next few months.

But while it's tempting to get up close to the furry marine mammal, the department is asking people to give seals plenty of room, at least 20 metres, as they can get aggressive and will bite.

It is also an offence to harass or injure a fur seal, which means people need to act responsibly. Dogs are a particular problem and need to be tightly controlled around seals.

The department takes a minimum-intervention approach to seals, which means leaving them alone unless they are clearly physically injured or are being attacked or harassed by people or dogs.

DOC ranger Pete Huggins says many people may not be used to seeing seals and often report them as stranded or sick.

'But when you get to know them you realise this is just normal behaviour,' says Pete. 'They can often have weepy eyes, and they sneeze and make coughing noises but that's all part of being a marine mammal.

'It's great that seal populations are growing strongly after they were hit hard by the fur trade in the 19th Century and it'll take a while for people to get used to them again.”

If people see a seal that needs intervention, such as suffering from an open wound or being caught in netting, please call the Department of Conservation on: 0800 362 468.

*Did you spot the fur seal in the Whitianga Harbour? If so, send your pics to: [email protected]