WASHINGTON–The Humane Society of the United States today praised the San Diego City Council for voting 7 to 1 to restore a rope barrier to protect the colony of harbor seals at Casa Beach in La Jolla, Calif. The council voted that the barrier was to be in place each year from January to May, in an attempt to protect the seals during their pupping season. This is the same relief sought by The HSUS in its seal protection lawsuit against the city in 2005.
The HSUS worked with San Diego Animal Advocates on its "Save Our Seals" campaign to restore the rope-barriers.
The rope line and advisory signs had kept beachgoers at a safe distance from the seals, allowing them to thrive and turning Casa Beach into a major tourist destination. Shortly after the city council ordered the removal of the rope and advisory signs in the fall of 2004, humans harassed the seals by coming too close, frightening them, and flushing them into the water. The stress caused a number of seal mothers during the 2005 pupping season to give birth prematurely. Those pups died as did others abandoned by their mothers when they became separated as crowds rushed the beach.
"We are grateful the city council has decided to provide the harbor seals at Casa Beach these minimal protections from the public during an especially vulnerable time of the year," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The HSUS. "This is great news for the seals, but barriers to keep humans at a safe distance from the seals are needed year round."
Although the rope barrier will serve as a reminder for humans to keep their distance from the seals during the pupping season, taking the rope down on May 1 will leave the seals vulnerable to potential harassment during the nursing or the molting seasons when seals are on the beach much of the day.
In an attempt to stop the harassment of and injury to the seals that occurred after the city council removed the rope barrier, The HSUS filed suit in February 2005 to force the city council to reinstall the rope barrier. "The Humane Society of the United States has fought this battle in the courts and with the politicians since the beginning of 2005, and we are pleased to see progress for the seals," said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president of animal protection litigation for The HSUS. "We look forward to working with the city council and citizens to make sure seals get the protection they need."
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
