San Diego’s La Jolla Cove could soon sport a “No Humans Allowed” sign as California leaders race to protect local sea lions during their pupping season.
Despite a seawall and plenty of warning signs telling visitors to give the marine mammals their personal space, tourists and locals regularly ignore the rules.
Tensions finally boiled over when an 18-year-old was slapped with a federal charge after admitting to attacking a sea lion at the cove.
Now, officials are looking at Monterey County for inspiration, where the strategy is simple.
“When the sea lions are present there, the city closes the beach to people, the sea lions are there, they do their pupping, and then they leave,” Ann Notthoff of the California Coastal Commission told KCRA.
Commissioners Notthoff and Matt O’Malley are pushing for a similar temporary shutdown at La Jolla Cove to keep the peace while San Diego figures out a long-term plan.
Meanwhile, the city attorney is hunting for legal ways to arm lifeguards and park rangers with ticket books, turning them into official beach bouncers ready to hand out hefty fines.
Tyler Muehl pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act after the video of him kicking at the sea lion went viral.
