San Diego officials seek more authority to protect La Jolla sea lions

San Diego city officials have requested more enforcement authority from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to better protect sea lions at La Jolla Cove, according to Voice of San Diego.

The request came in a letter dated October 22 from local lawmakers, who also asked NOAA to assign additional personnel to the popular sea lion habitat. Currently, city park rangers lack jurisdiction to enforce the 1972 federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and can only refer harassment cases to NOAA.

This move follows an incident where a man kicked a sea lion in the face on camera at La Jolla Cove, raising concerns about the safety of the marine mammals and the effectiveness of current enforcement measures.

San Diego's push for greater enforcement powers aims to enhance protection for the sea lions and ensure visitors respect the wildlife at this iconic local site.