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Point La Jolla - Proposed Seasonal Closure
Point La Jolla and the California Sea Lion
Point La Jolla and the California Sea LionPoint La Jolla is a rocky portion along the San Diego coastline between La Jolla Cove and Boomer Beach in the community of La Jolla. In recent years, the point has become a popular area for California Sea Lions to haul out of the ocean and rest and for sea lion mothers to raise their young during the annual pupping season.
With the increase in the sea lion population, Point La Jolla has become a popular tourist destination for the public to view these wild animals close up. As a result, interactions between sea lions and the public have increased.
Members of the public have been observed trying to touch, take "selfies," and get as close to sea lions as possible which is a potentially dangerous situation for both the public and the animals.
Additionally, sea lion pupping season, which typically begins in early May and concludes in October, is a very important time for mother sea lions and their young to bond, nurse and learn to swim. Human interactions with adult sea lions and their young during this important time could potentially result in injury or abandonment of sea lion offspring and aggressive behavior from adult sea lions. These interactions are not only dangerous for both humans and wildlife it may acutally be a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act which helps to safeguard these animals.
Seasonal Closure
In an effort to moderate close interactions with the public and the sea lions the City issued a temporary seasonal closure of Point La Jolla via Emergency Coastal Development Permit No. 2572053 from August 10, 2021 through September 15, 2021.
As part of the Emergency Coastal Development Permit requirements, the City of San Diego, intends to submit a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application to the California Coastal Commission to implement a seasonal closure of the Point La Jolla area on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis during the sea lion pupping season.
