By Sharyn Umaña-Angers
In 2010, roughly 300 California sea lions established a rookery and nursery on a Southern California beach, becoming a major tourist attraction as synonymous with La Jolla as “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys. Frankly, they couldn’t have picked a better spot: the view alone is worth $20 million. Literally. “I think it’s literally the prettiest place in San Diego,” says Cassie Paumard, a San Diego resident and Scientific Aide with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve is home to one of the two largest giant kelp forests on the Pacific Coast, providing a smorgasbord of food and protection for a huge array of species. But this tiny paradise also attracts millions of people from all over the world to swim, surf, dive, snorkel, and, of course, watch its famous pinniped residents. In today’s social media-driven climate, tourists hankering to capture that viral video of a baby sea lion chasing a seagull—or perhaps a seagull chasing a baby sea lion—are willing to do anything to get the shot, often crossing the line from ecotourism to wildlife harassment. Throngs of people are regularly seen crowding, touching, feeding, chasing, and taunting sea lions to elicit a reaction. Paumard even witnessed “one woman throwing little pebbles at one that was asleep.” This constant badgering can have dire consequences for sea lions and humans alike.
Predators, Not Pets
Many people are familiar with marine parks that have sea lion shows demonstrating how intelligent and playful they can be. Audiences roar with laughter watching a sea lion smile, clap, and keep rhythm to a musical beat—often better than some people. But these endearing human-like behaviours can create a dangerous misconception of sea lions as oversized pets instead of unpredictable, wild animals. “The males can get up to a thousand pounds,” Paumard says. “That is the size of a bear… Bears, wolves, and pinnipeds (the family that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses) all share a common ancestor… All these animals bite and can get aggressive.” Many tourists assume that La Jolla sea lions are different because they are supposedly accustomed to crowds. While that may be true to some degree, discovering where that limit is can make the difference between life and death for a sea lion or her pup.
Respect the Nap
Pupping season is the most critical time for a female sea lion. “When the pups are between 0-6 months old,” Paumard says, “they need to be in contact with their mom when she comes back so they can nurse.” But an adult female may desert her baby if she feels threatened, and without Mom, the abandoned pup risks starvation, loss of thermoregulation, and vulnerability to attack by large males.
Hordes of impulsive tourists can increase stress levels in sea lions by preventing them from coming ashore, provoking aggressive behaviour, and disrupting critical nap time—something even humans can relate to as the ideal way to turn a peaceful sea lion into a grumpy menace. “On land,” Paumard says, “it’s their time to relax, and that’s what people need to understand. Being in the water with them is completely different than when they’re on land.” An innocent attempt to take a photo of an unsuspecting sea lion on a beach at close range can quickly turn into a pinniped rodeo with a frightened tourist being chased by an irascible—and now very awake—sea lion. Unfortunately, when it comes to nature, Kristen Donald, a biologist with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, laments, “People have really lost their common sense.”
Whose Beach Is It Anyway?
Officially, sea lions have been federally protected since 1972 by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which prohibits the harassment, feeding, capturing, or killing of wild marine mammals. However, enforcing these measures—much less prosecuting violations—has been nearly impossible given the volume of tourists, limited staff, and legal obstacles that prevent 24-hour surveillance.
For years, a corps of dedicated volunteers at the Seal Society of San Diego (SSSD) have taken it upon themselves to educate the public and request space for the sea lions, though they have no official authority to enforce these regulations. Along with other wildlife advocacy groups, SSSD launched campaigns, initiated educational outreach programs, and bravely took on the “Goliath” anti-beach closure interests in court, like Bob Evans, President of La Jolla Parks & Beaches.
In 2022, the San Diego City Council finally acquiesced to pressure, closing the beach to foot traffic between May and November each year, when sea lions give birth and newborn pups are at their most vulnerable. But the closure was really just a chain link blocking a stairway leading down to the rocks, and as Paumard has witnessed, “there’s always that one person that’s not following the rules.” This prompts others to invariably follow, and before you can say, “Respect the nap,” the sea lion is surrounded by a swarm of tourists.
‘Sealing’ the Deal
Though many locals derided the seasonal closure, it was hard to argue with the fact that there were no reports of negative interactions between humans and sea lions during this time. Yet immediately upon reopening, harmful incidents returned, including one snorkeler’s attempt to pet a sea lion pup, a little girl throwing sand at a basking female, and tourists sent fleeing from two aggressively charging large male bulls.
Center: A snorkeler reaches down to pet a sea lion pup that is awaiting its mother’s return. Photo by San Diego CBS8.
Right: A little girl throws sand at a sleeping sea lion to elicit a reaction. Photo by USA Today.
In the first legislation of its kind, tireless efforts from wildlife advocacy groups finally won a victory for the sea lions. On September 18, 2023—perhaps bolstered by the results of the zero-incident closure the year before—the San Diego City Council unanimously approved the year-round closure of Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach. Tourists can still passively watch the sea lions frolic from behind a protective barrier, where additional signage will be posted along with increased ranger presence. According to Paumard, a recent study showed that “when there was a ranger present, there were very little to no harassment events from people.” The closure will officially be in place until 2030, though the city insists these restrictions are a temporary placeholder until long-term strategies can be implemented. This isn’t enough for some people, however, like Japhet Perez Estrada, a 28-year-old resident who feels that the closure is “punishing the masses for honestly the actions of a very small minority.”
However, Carol Toye of the SSSD reminds us that sea lions are not the only ones protected by the beach closure. It also safeguards seabirds and coastal plants and reduces human-induced coastal erosion and harmful litter.
Responsible Wildlife Viewing
Unquestionably, there is a justifiable fascination for tourists with La Jolla sea lions, yet clear violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act occur almost daily. “I definitely had to intervene two to three times a day,” Paumard laments, which begs the question, ‘What exactly is responsible wildlife viewing?’
The best thing a tourist can do for a wild animal is to respect its autonomy by giving it space. Enjoying sea lions from a respectful distance (at least 50ft or 15m) will likely result in a greater wildlife experience because they have the freedom to engage in natural behaviours like feeding, mating, giving birth, and raising their young. “To get that kind of interaction, it’s really gotta be on the animal’s terms,” Paumard says. “It’s even better because it’s not a forced interaction.”
Avoiding loud or sudden noises can also help to reduce sea lion anxiety and alleviate stress. It may be ironic for an animal that makes noises like a freight train coming off the tracks, but screaming, shouting, and shrieking (or barking, for those animal lovers out walking with their pets) can startle sea lions, particularly young ones still trying to learn its mother’s individual call. It is a far more enriching—and comical—experience to let the sea lions do the talking.
Most popular wildlife attractions come with warning signs posted in the vicinity. It’s easy to assume that it is all just logic and common sense, but these signs can offer important information about an animal’s behaviour and temperament that can be helpful to know beforehand. It’s safe to say that the guy who was chased down the beach in a Speedo by an angry bull sea lion probably didn’t read the warning signs.
Another useful tool for responsible wildlife viewing is to pay attention to the animal’s body language. An overzealous tourist might think a pinniped staring back at them is unfazed by their attempt to take a selfie, but a staring sea lion is an anxious sea lion on high alert. A sea lion that turns its back moves away, or retreats into the ocean is trying to communicate that it is uncomfortable with the situation. In this case, back up slowly and increase the distance between yourself and the animal. Knowing how to read an animal’s body language is key to understanding the communication between you.
If there is still doubt about the ethicality of one’s actions when viewing wildlife, it is best to simply consider The Golden Rule to “treat others as you would like to be treated.” How would you feel if you were constantly being woken up from a deep sleep just to take a selfie? Or if a stranger reached out and grabbed your child? Or if someone threw sand at you just to see how you would react? For humans, all of these actions constitute a distinct—and legal—violation of harassment. Sea lions deserve the same courtesy and respect. “They’re living beings, too, and they deserve their own place on this planet,” says Paumard. “We just need to coexist with them. And it is possible.”
Why Does It Matter?
At the end of the day, the ultimate challenge in La Jolla Cove remains coexistence and mutual respect. In the wake of the fallout from the documentary Blackfish, society changed its ethical perception of exploiting animals for entertainment in captivity. These considerations must also extend to animals in the wild. Ultimately, it is a choice that the public, as a whole, must make as we continue to travel the globe seeking more authentic connections with nature in a sustainable way.
If you see an injured wild animal, please call the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at
(866) 767-6114 or the SeaWorld Rescue Team at (800) 541-SEAL. If you witness an incident of wildlife harassment, please call California Fish & Game at (888) 334-2258. Donate to conservation organizations dedicated to ensuring the respectful treatment of seals and sea lions in La Jolla Cove (Seal Society of San Diego, Project Kolika, Experience Wildlife).
About The Author
Sharyn Umaña-Angers is a wildlife and nature filmmaker from Southern California. After graduating from Chapman University with a B.F.A. in TV & Film and spending a few years in series television production, Sharyn joined Princess Cruises as a Video Producer, where she travelled the world for over five years. This transformative time inspired her desire to produce content promoting wildlife and nature conservation. After stints as a Video Producer with the San Diego Wildlife Alliance and Lions, Tigers & Bears Big Cat Sanctuary, Sharyn joined National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions as a Video Chronicler. Now an Assistant Expedition Leader with Lindblad, Sharyn is also in her final year of a Master’s graduate program in Conservation Biology and plans to start her own production company to inspire a love of nature in enthusiastic travellers.
To find out more about the author, please visit her website: https://www.sharynsstudio.com
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media