La Jolla’s coastline draws millions of visitors each year to see California sea lions up close in their natural habitat. With people and wildlife sharing the same narrow stretch of coast, keeping a safe distance is essential for both visitors and the animals.

Unsafe interactions between visitors and sea lions are not new, but they remain a serious concern for the City. When people approach, touch or crowd these wild animals, it can create dangerous situations for both visitors and wildlife.

The City has taken significant action to address these interactions before. In September 2023, the San Diego City Council voted to permanently close Point La Jolla, the rocky area between La Jolla Cove and Boomer Beach, to protect sea lions that use the area to rest and raise their young during pupping season, which typically runs from early May through October.

La Jolla Cove remains open to the public year-round. It is one of the region’s most visited coastal destinations, welcoming an estimated 3 million visitors annually, including swimmers, divers, kayakers and beachgoers. The City’s goal is preserving that public access while keeping both people and wildlife safe.

One challenge to achieving that goal is what happens when visitors get too close. Attempts to touch, crowd or take selfies with sea lions can quickly create unsafe situations for both people and wildlife. Recent viral videos and media reports have shown visitors approaching, touching and taking selfies with sea lions. In July, a man pleaded guilty to a federal charge of harassing a sea lion, underscoring the consequences of getting too close.

Another challenge the City faces is that enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act falls to federal authorities. Under the law, harassment of marine mammals is prohibited, and federal agencies have the authority to cite and prosecute violations, including incidents like the one in July. The City focuses on what it can control: prevention, education, crowd management and close coordination with federal, state and community partners when incidents occur.

Working with those agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the California Coastal Commission and the Sierra Club Seal Society, the City has taken a series of steps to improve safety at La Jolla Cove and educate visitors about responsible wildlife viewing.

“We are using every tool available to protect La Jolla’s sea lions while keeping this coastline safe and accessible for the public,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “That means having our Park Rangers on the ground, educating visitors and working closely with our state and federal partners to respond when people put themselves or these animals at risk.”

Creating Space Between Visitors and Wildlife

Park Rangers have long maintained a seven-day-a-week presence at La Jolla Cove, engaging directly with visitors and monitoring interactions with wildlife. Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the City added resources to strengthen Ranger operations at the Cove and surrounding shoreline areas, allowing for more consistent staffing throughout the day as visitor activity increased.

Rangers now provide a higher level of service at the Cove, including direct visitor education, coordination with volunteer and Sierra Club docents, multilingual announcements, interpretive resources and on-the-beach crowd management when needed. Rangers regularly remind visitors to stay at least 20 feet from sea lions and create additional space around the animals when possible.

That space matters. Sea lions need room to rest, care for their pups and move between the beach and ocean. When they feel crowded or threatened, they can react unpredictably. Keeping a safe distance helps protect visitors while allowing the animals to rest and move without interference.

Visitors can help by staying at least 20 feet away, never touching or feeding sea lions, and following instructions from Park Rangers.

When sea lions gather near the western stairs, Rangers may redirect beachgoers to the eastern staircase and use cones to give the animals more room. Cones may also be placed around pups, when possible, to create a clear buffer between people and wildlife.

Outreach and Educational Signage

The City is also trying to reach visitors before a problem occurs. Visual signs were installed just before Memorial Day to reinforce safe viewing distances and remind visitors not to approach or interact with sea lions. Rangers and volunteers also staff educational tables near Point La Jolla and La Jolla Cove, while public service announcements extend that message online and through local media.

Visitors can help protect La Jolla’s sea lions by staying at least 20 feet away, never touching or approaching the animals, following posted signs and Park Ranger instructions, and reporting concerning interactions to Rangers.

Next Steps

The City will continue working with state, federal and community partners to strengthen protections at La Jolla Cove, including evaluating Ranger coverage, signage, crowd-management measures and public education efforts. That work also includes developing visitor information for tour operators to share with passengers before they arrive.

Everyone who visits La Jolla can help protect its sea lions. Give them space, never touch or approach them, and follow posted signs and Park Ranger instructions. Protecting La Jolla’s sea lions is a shared responsibility, and a little distance can make a big difference.

Learn more about sea lions in La Jolla and current protections on the Point La Jolla webpage.