Overview
- A social media clip recorded shortly before midnight on Wednesday appears to show a man harassing and then kicking a California sea lion at La Jolla Cove.
- NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement has opened an active investigation and says it cannot share further details while it reviews the video.
- San Diego police say they were not notified at the time and that the incident was reported to California Fish and Game, which referred the matter to NOAA.
- California sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and harassment can bring fines or jail time, a point advocacy groups have cited while calling for prosecution.
- Officials and advocates urge witnesses to report information to NOAA and warn that human contact risks increase as the sea lions approach breeding and pupping season.