Half the sea lion pups died at La Jolla Cove. People are arguing about cones

Half the sea lion pups born this season at La Jolla Cove have died, according to the Sierra Club Seal Society, compared with 10% in the nearby area closed to visitors. The group wants cones marking a 20-foot buffer. A local beach organization considers that essentially a closure.

NOAA's general viewing guidance says people and pets should remain at least 50 yards from seals and sea lions. Harassment is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and can bring civil penalties of up to $36,498 or a year in prison.

San Diego's park rangers cannot detain people who refuse to identify themselves, so many alleged violations never reach NOAA. The agency says it has four enforcement officers covering the entire state.

The fears of a closure come from nearby Point La Jolla, which San Diego closed year-round after repeated human-sea-lion conflicts. The city's signs there prohibit entry and warn that approaching or harassing the animals is dangerous and illegal. Closures become necessary if people ignore the rules, which seems to be something a group calling itself "La Jolla Parks and Beaches" finds threatening.

h/t SF Gate