One day into harbor seal pupping season, the City of San Diego announced the beach at the Children's Pool in La Jolla would be closed -- despite a court ruling to keep it open to the public.
Earlier this week, city officials said the Children's Pool would be open during seal pupping season in order to comply with a ruling handed down by a Southern California judge.
The city is in the process of appealing that ruling and had filed a motion in the Court of Appeal so that the beach closure could be implemented during the pupping season while the appeal process is ongoing.
On Friday, the city announced that legal permission had been granted, and said the Children's Pool would be closed, effective immediately, during seal pupping season, which is from Dec. 15 to May 15.
A rope line, which the city said “serves as a guide and reminder for the public to keep a safe distance from any seals,” will remain in place at the Children's Pool. It's meant to deter people from harassing or disturbing the seals, which is illegal, and to keep people safe from the animals.
This marks the latest back-and-forth in the ongoing controversy to open or close the beach area in La Jolla where harbor seals rest and give birth to their young. The area is known as a prime spot to observe seals in San Diego.
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On May 18, 2014, the San Diego City Council approved a decision to close the pool to the public during pupping season.The closure had been in effect since that approval in 2014.
In May of 2016, an Orange County Superior Court ruling decided it was illegal for the Children’s Pool beach area to be closed to the public during pupping season.
Now, the City of San Diego's appeal process against this ruling will continue as both sides try to resolve the longtime legal issues surrounding the Children’s Pool.
Seal Conservancy advocates believe it should stay closed during pupping season to protect the animals and their pups from possible harassment by spectators who get too close in order to pose for photos. Opponents of the closure believe public access to the beach should be available all year.
