A California beach has been closed for a week as hundreds of sea lions congregate on the shore, with city officials blocking the area off and federal officials warning that feeding or harassing the animals are against the law.
The City of Monterey’s Parks Division officially closed San Carlos Beach on Monday, Aug. 19, blocking the area off with barricades and warning visitors to remain at least 50 yards away from the wild marine mammals.
The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary said that along with hundreds of mostly male sea lions, some sea otter moms and pups were also spotted in the area, and are also federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
“Obey federal law and resist the desire to get too close. NOAA’s wildlife viewing guidelines are to stay at least 50 yards (150 feet) from seals and sea lions, whenever possible,” the sanctuary said.
Divers in the area are warned to enter the water well away from the sea lions on the beach, and to keep a lookout for sea otters in the water, so as not to disturb them.
“When in sanctuary waters, divers must give the sea otters plenty of space as to not disturb their natural behavior. If divers do surface near a sea otter, please move away slowly to reduce disturbance,” the sanctuary said.
NOAA officials are asking anyone who observes wildlife disturbance violations, such as people feeding, attempting to feed, or harassing marine mammals in the wild, to NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964.