Seal Beach Controversy in La Jolla, California
Thu, Mar 13, 2008
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A popular side-trip for visitors to the San Diego area is to visit the seals in La Jolla, CA.
The sheltered cove commonly known by everyone as the “Seal Beach” is actually legally named “The Children’s Pool.” A feud continues to brew between local residents who want the seals gone and animal protection activists who want the beach to be solely the animals’ domain.
Before the sea wall was built the site was a natural beach, with a shallow water area serving as a channel between a large offshore rock and mainland bluff. In the 1930’s the townspeople built the jetty to shelter the cove so their children could enjoy the calm water.
In the 1970’s, the local seals knew a good thing when they saw it and started moving in. The beach is now a popular spot for the seals to nap, sunbathe, and bear their young – and for visitors to watch the seals and take photos. It is not really suitable for human swimming because of the high bacteria content from the animals’ fecal matter.
Harbor seals are protected from harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other legislation, but some local interests would like to see the seals leave so that people can resume using the beach. They say a 1931 state tidelands grant transferring ownership of the cove to San Diego gives humans priority over seals.
The latest ruling, from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is a victory for the San Diego-based Animal Protection and Rescue League. They can reinstall a guideline rope to keep sightseers away from a colony of harbor seals during their pupping season through May.
I took the top photo, and the one above, in March of 2006. At that time, there were volunteers standing guard at the beach, explaining to visitors that they couldn’t legally be kept off the sand and away from the seals, but they were encouraged to stay on the observation pier. I did see a handful of renegades who disregarded the requests and walked to within a few feet of the seals.
I’ve been back several times to visit the seals. A trip to San Diego is not complete without a drive to La Jolla and the seal beach. I enjoy watching the seals, they’re very entertaining and quiet. I’d rather watch them than a bunch of screaming children.
Author: Julie Corsi of The Pet Blog
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August 12th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I’d lived in San Diego for the first twenty-some years of my life and come back here nearly every year. When I do, I always stop off in La Jolla to do a little seal-watching. This year I was shocked to find the ropes protecting the seals gone, and the herd (pod?) of seals in La Jolla far smaller than it’s ever been.
I can’t believe the obnoxious behavior of some who would ruin what few good things there are left in the world. This little haven for the seals is such a thing. As if there were no other places in San Diego county for swimmers to swim or children to play! And this is THE ONLY place in San Diego county where the seals congregate on land, completely innocent of the political posturing and game-playing that will decide their fate.