Iconic San Diego Spot to See Sea Lions Now Closed to Public — Here's Why
The measure was passed by the San Diego City council this week.
Nina Ruggiero/Travel + Leisure
A popular beach and location to see sea lions up close along California’s coast will now be closed to the public.
San Diego’s famed Point La Jolla and Boomer Beach have been a viewing spot of the natural wildlife along the ocean for decades, and will now be closed to the public as a new measure passed unanimously by the San Diego City Council during a public hearing on Sept. 18, according to meeting minutes reviewed by Travel + Leisure.
Point La Jolla is located approximately 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, along the Pacific Ocean. La Jolla's tourism website describes Boomer Beech as a "hidden beach" with "great waves" popular with body surfers.
However, as tourists have flocked to the area for sea lion selfies, residents and officials alike have grown increasingly worried about the safety of visitors and the animals. In fact, this summer, CBS News shared video of sea lions charging at tourists in the area.
Many residents applaud the decision, with people and environmental experts sending in public comments to the City Council in advance of the meeting.
“The year-round closure of the rocky outcropping at Pt. La Jolla protects pups left on the rookery while mothers forage. Pups nurse up to 11 months. They are defenseless when their mothers leave to forage and have been seen subjected to endless harassment lowering their chance of survival,” shared Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s Kristen Donald of Laguna Beach, CA in a public comment.
Donald also notes that the public can still get a glimpse of the sea lions from a safe distance on the nearby boardwalk.
However, not everyone was pleased that Point La Jolla will be closed. One resident of Ramona, CA shared in the public comments that this was a “hostile take-over of a public beach by a single-interest group” and is “misguided and should be rejected”.
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