Monterey officials say sea lions are starting to congregate again near Cannery Row, for the third June in a row.
The mammals — whose males can reach 850 pounds and seven feet long — are gathering on San Carlos Beach just as they have before, when hundreds have hauled up.
“They are definitely in a routine and apparently love to visit Monterey Bay for June and July,” the city said Friday on social media. “They follow the food!”
Nutrient-rich water is driven up from the depths in the bay to feed the anchovies, mackerel, rockfish and sardine that are the sea lions’ favorite diet, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
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.
“At this point, we are keeping the beach open for recreation, but we will have signage reminding people to keep their distance from these lovely and large sea mammals,” the city said.
Sea lions and other marine mammals are federally protected. It’s against the law to harass, feed, capture or kill any marine mammal.