Monterey beach taken over by hundreds of migrating sea lions reopens after 7 weeks

A Monterey beach crowded with hundreds of sea lions for seven weeks has reopened to public use, city officials said.

San Carlos Beach on Cannery Row was closed Aug. 19 by the influx of sea lions on their annual migration from the Channel Islands, city officials said on social media.

Hundreds of mostly male sea lions found abundant food close to shore within the Monterey Bay, the city said. 

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary helped the city decide to close the beach to protect the marine mammals and ensure public safety, the city said. 

“Marine mammal experts expect the sea lions to return to the Channel Islands at some point soon,” the city said. “Although unlikely, if the sea lions repopulate San Carlos Beach, the City of Monterey will take additional action and may have to close the beach again.”

Marine mammals, including sea lions, are federally protected. It’s against the law to harass, feed, capture, or kill any marine mammal.