La Jolla seal beach controversy continues

There's a quiet, little, sheltered cove in La Jolla, CA that continues to be the subject of controversy between animal protection advocates and members of the public who claim a right to access and to use the Children's Pool as a swimming beach. Before the sea wall was built, the site was a natural beach, with a shallow water area serving as a channel between a large offshore rock and mainland bluff. In the 1930's the townspeople built the jetty to shelter the cove so their children could enjoy the calm water. The beach is still called "The Children's Pool," but since the 1970's, the seals have moved in and taken it over. Harbor seals are protected from harassment by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other legislation, but some local interests would like to see the seals leave so that people can resume using the beach. They say a 1931 state tidelands grant transferring ownership of the cove to San Diego gives humans priority over seals. The latest ruling, from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is a victory for the San Diego-based Animal Protection and Rescue League. They can reinstall a guideline rope to keep sightseers away from a colony of harbor seals during their pupping season through May. I took the above photo, and the one to the left, in March of 2006. At that time, there were volunteers standing guard at the beach, explaining to visitors that they couldn't legally be kept off the sand and away from the seals, but they were encouraged to stay on the observation pier. I did see a handful of renegades who disregarded the requests and walked to within a few feet of the seals. I've been back several times to visit the seals. A trip to San Diego is not complete without a drive to La Jolla and the seal beach. I enjoy watching the seals - they're very entertaining - and quiet. I'd rather watch them than a bunch of screaming children. "seal beach, LaJolla", "La Jolla Beach California" and "What are you looking at?" by corsi photo