The City of San Diego said the footage serves as a reminder that people need to maintain a safe distance from sea lions in their natural habitat.
SAN DIEGO — A video circulating on social media recently shows two sea lions charging at beachgoers at La Jolla Cove. The City of San Diego said the footage serves as a reminder that people need to maintain a safe distance from sea lions in their natural habitat.
The City told News 8 that, unfortunately, some people choose to disregard the signs all over the Cove and ignore warnings from lifeguards and park rangers.
Sunday, News 8 crews observed park rangers out in full force reminding people to keep their distance from the sea lions; not everyone chose to listen.
Sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the federal agency responsible for enforcement of this act is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Park rangers work with NOAA to report observed violations to them.
“It’s obviously much busier than it used to be. And the respect for the ocean and the nature in the ocean seems to be lacking a little bit more than it was when we were growing up,” Sydney Waters, an Encinitas native who was visiting La Jolla Cove Sunday, said. “The staff down there are telling people constantly to move away from the sea lions and the pups. And then they keep going back. And then they get mad when the sea lions start chasing them. It’s like, we have to remember we are in their territory, we’re guests. We don’t own this land.”
The City of San Diego added that the safest place to observe and enjoy the sea lions is from 50 yards away, ideally on the walkway above the beach.