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Sea Lions take over beach in Monterey

August 20, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

City of Monterey officials announced last week a local beach is temporarily off limits to humans after a large number of sea lions took over the beach.

Sea lions recently spread out along the popular San Carlos Beach, located near Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf. City staff will inform the public when the beach reopens.

Sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Anyone caught harassing, feeding, are harming the marine mammals could face a hefty fine or even jail time.

“We want residents and visitors to be safe while visiting the coastline, and remind you to enjoy and watch the sea lions from a distance of at least 50 yards,” according to city staff. “Please remember, we humans are sharing this space with other species.”

 


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This is what happens when you govern nature with your heart and not your brain….


5

There is no way a degraded marine environment threatened by human activities could support the abundant marine life we see occupying the top of the food chain in our West Coast waters. The California offshore marine environment is robust, abundant with life and exceptionally healthy.


4

Many marine mammals have overpopulated and should no longer be protected. Sea lions, seals, sea otters and sea elephants in this part of California have recovered in huge numbers but the large predators, great white sharks and orcas, that should keep them at a healthy level are way behind.


16

Even if they weren’t protected, on September 4, 2019, Governor Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 273 (Gonzalez, Chapter 216, Statutes of 2019), which prohibits the trapping of any furbearing mammal or nongame mammal for purposes of recreation or commerce in fur.


We have to repeal a few laws before we can go clubbing.


9

So they “sealed” off the beach?


21