In an on-going struggle to protect a harbor seal colony from harassment in the San Diego suburb of La Jolla, you can help by writing a letter of support to the California Coastal Commission.

Recently, in a huge win for the seals, the San Diego City Council voted 6 to 3 in favor of annual seasonal closure of Casa Beach during Southern California’s harbor seal pupping season, from December 15th-May 15. This closure will deny the public access down onto the small beach during this time, as the beach stairs will be chained off at the middle landing. There will still be perfect viewing for the public from the stair landing, sidewalk above and the seawall.

Following pupping season, a rope barrier will be placed on the beach to provide some form of protection for the colony, but the beach will be legally open for use during the summer and fall months through a gap in the rope. In the photo above, a nursing mom has gone under the rope into the public zone on the small beach - evidence of the importance of preventing public access down onto the beach during pupping season in particular, while moms and pups are vulnerable to disturbance.

The controversy over the right for harbor seals to use this urban beach to rest, give birth and nurse their young has been going on for decades (see Seal Sitters dedicated webpage about Casa Beach). Some anti-seal protesters regularly harass and flush the seals from the beach, putting newborn and weaned pups in grave danger - insistent that the beach belongs to people, not seals - even though there are a number of nearby easy-access beaches for use by divers and swimmers.

This victory to close the beach steps is only a temporary step. The seasonal closure of the beach still needs to be approved by the California Coastal Commission. Approval must be granted by August to ensure access will be restricted during the coming winter/spring pupping season (for pupping seasons in Washington State, click here).

Please write a letter to the Coastal Commission requesting permanent annual seasonal closure of Casa Beach (also known as Children’s Beach) in La Jolla. A sample letter suggested by Seal Conservancy of San Diego (formerly La Jolla Friends of the Seals) is provided here. Please embellish with your personal thoughts about the need to Share the Shore with wildlife - and to grant this small sanctuary for marine mammals in La Jolla, while providing an unparalleled educational experience with an unobstructed view from above the beach. Seal Sitters MMSN would argue that the stair chain remain year-round to ensure the seal colony is not harassed and put in danger. However, having the steps chained during pupping season is a major victory for seal advocates in a decades-long battle. Even with the rope in place on the beach during the remainder of the season, a curious public is allowed to stand far too close to resting seals. All marine mammals are protected from harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The harbor seals of Casa Beach need us to be their advocates! Please write the California Coastal Commission before August in order to be considered as testimony. For the latest news on this issue and a link to thank the 6 members of the San Diego City Council who supported the seals, visit the SCSD website.

Tags: Children's Pool, Casa Beach