A popular beach near Cannery Row in Monterey has been closed after hundreds of sea lions hauled up for the second time in 10 months.
Public access to San Carlos Beach has been temporarily suspended and officials are monitoring a nearby recreation trail between Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row, the city said.
“We want residents and visitors to be safe while visiting the coastline and encourage enjoying and watching the sea lions from a distance of at least 50 yards,” the city said in an announcement posted on social media.
San Carlos Beach was closed for seven weeks last August by an influx of sea lions on their annual migration from the Channel Islands, city officials said at the time.
While an adult male California sea lion weighs on average about 660 pounds, the closure is more for the protection of the animals than for people. Sea lions and other marine mammals are federally protected. It’s against the law to harass, feed, capture or kill any marine mammal.
Hundreds of mostly male sea lions found abundant food close to shore within the Monterey Bay, the city said.