City officials said the closure could be implemented as early as November. Visitors will still be able to observe sea lions from the observation area on the boardwalk.
Point La Jolla is considered one of California’s major sea lion breeding areas, where sea lions mate and give birth on land.
Even though federal law prohibits direct contact with sea lions within a 50-foot radius, local officials said enforcement has become more difficult over the years. More tourists are reportedly seen jumping over the area’s 3-foot-tall cement fence to get face-to-face with the sea lions. children throwing stones or people petting sea lions.There have also been reports such as Sea lion attacks beachgoers In the last few months.
Richard Miller, executive director of the San Diego Seal Association, said this decision is long overdue and speaks volumes about the etiquette that travelers and visitors should follow to keep themselves and the wildlife safe. Stated.
“It exploded exponentially. Numbers of people started showing up all over the world,” Miller said. “This is really amazing, but large crowds can be very difficult to control, because if you see one person go down to the rocks, everyone will be there, regardless of the signs telling them to stay away. Because I think it’s okay if it comes down.”
Many parks and tourist destinations, including Yellowstone National Park, are seeing an increase in people daring to approach animals, and reports of people coming into contact with wild bison and other animals are increasing.
San Diego City Councilman Joe LaCava, who represents the La Jolla community, said in a statement that Monday’s vote will allow visitors to enjoy La Jolla’s beaches, shops and attractions while viewing sea lions from a safe distance.
“People come from all over the world to marvel at San Diego’s coastline, and Point La Jolla gives them an up-close view that’s unique to San Diego,” he said. “Monday’s vote preserves the visitor experience and protects the wildlife in our environment.”
The decision has been debated for the past two years, with environmental and animal rights activists pushing for the area to be closed to the public.
Many have warned that direct contact with sea lions is dangerous for humans and animals alike, especially during the sea lion spawning season from May to October.
Philippe Musegers, Executive Director San Diego Coastal Managerstated that this is a critical time for adult sea lions to raise their pups and strengthen their bonds, and that interactions with humans can lead to aggressive behavior by animals and parents, such as abandonment of pups. Ta.
Mousegaas said incidents involving direct contact between sea lions and humans are on the rise. He said he sees families placing their children next to the sea lions, trying to take pictures and even touch them, sometimes on a daily basis.
Local authorities also wanted to limit access to the area’s rocky terrain, protecting visitors who could easily trip or fall if they weren’t careful.
Although the breeding grounds are popular tourist spots in San Diego, Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach are not places where visitors can picnic or swim, Musegers said.
However, the City Council approved maintaining access points to the ocean for people who use the area for recreational purposes such as body surfing, scuba diving, swimming, and other underwater water activities. Many of these groups have been swimming at Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach for decades, keeping a safe distance from the sea lions, said Brian Elliott, a La Caba environmental commission consultant.
“They did a good job of staying out of the way,” Elliott said. “We appreciate the fact that this was not their intention and were able to provide them with the equipment to give them such access. They really tried to make sure we had as much space as possible.”
This is not the first time that access to these areas has been restricted. Shortly after taking office two years ago, LaCava’s office began receiving reports of visitors harassing the growing number of sea lions, eventually discouraging people from the dangers of direct contact with sea lions. He said signage has been placed around public areas to raise awareness.
In 2021, amid continued incidents and complaints, city officials began working with the California Coastal Commission to issue emergency closures of the area during sea lion nesting season.
Although there were some instances of people jumping the fence, the overall trend was that this decision resulted in more people staying in nearby boardwalk areas to safely view the lions. Following the success of that decision, the California Coastal Commission ultimately granted the city permission to periodically close affected areas during the spawning season, Elliott said.
Monday’s vote gives rangers and other public safety officers the power to enforce permits and trespassing.
“This shows they recognize the need to protect sea lions and people alike,” Miller said.