In Favor of a Year-Round In Favor of a Year-Round RopeRope

Carol Archibald, PhDCarol Archibald, PhDMember, La Jolla Friends of the SealsMember, La Jolla Friends of the Seals

Site FidelitySite Fidelity

• Harbor seals stick to familiar resting Harbor seals stick to familiar resting spots or haul out sites, usually spots or haul out sites, usually coastalcoastal

• La Jolla rookery’s historic haul out site La Jolla rookery’s historic haul out site documented from late 1887 mapdocumented from late 1887 map

• Seals may have used La Jolla site for Seals may have used La Jolla site for centuriescenturies

Importance of Beach for Importance of Beach for SealsSeals

•Seals need beach to Seals need beach to survivesurvive– For resting, re-oxygenation, For resting, re-oxygenation,

thermal regulation, molting  thermal regulation, molting  – Birthing, nursing, raising of pups Birthing, nursing, raising of pups

•This beach is a major haul out site for This beach is a major haul out site for all Southern CA seals all Southern CA seals

•Only birthing area south of Point Only birthing area south of Point MaguMagu (north of LA) (north of LA)

Necessity for haul-out in Necessity for haul-out in harbor seals. harbor seals. Brasseur 1996Brasseur 1996

Immediately after captive seals Immediately after captive seals were intentionally deprived of were intentionally deprived of being able to haul out, they hauled being able to haul out, they hauled out more to compensate for the out more to compensate for the deprivation, especially during deprivation, especially during daylight hours.daylight hours.

Numerous studies Numerous studies confirm disturbances confirm disturbances from human activities from human activities impact harbor seal haul-impact harbor seal haul-out behaviorout behavior

Renouf 1981; Schneider and Payne 1983; Renouf 1981; Schneider and Payne 1983; Terhune and Almon 1983; Allen 1984; Stewart Terhune and Almon 1983; Allen 1984; Stewart 1984; Suryan and Harvey 1999; Mortenson 1984; Suryan and Harvey 1999; Mortenson 2000).  2000). 

Impact of human Impact of human disturbancesdisturbances

• In some study locations, harbor seals In some study locations, harbor seals disturbed by people 2/3 or more of the day. disturbed by people 2/3 or more of the day.

• Human activity causes seals to rapidly flee Human activity causes seals to rapidly flee from haul-out sites or “flush” into the water. from haul-out sites or “flush” into the water. After a flushing event, haul-out numbers After a flushing event, haul-out numbers infrequently or never recover fully. infrequently or never recover fully. 

• With persistent human encroachment, seals With persistent human encroachment, seals known to permanently abandon a haul-out known to permanently abandon a haul-out site (Strawberry Pit)site (Strawberry Pit)

People have flushed all seals off the People have flushed all seals off the beachbeach

Effects of visitors on the behavior Effects of visitors on the behavior of harbor seals at Glacier Bay. of harbor seals at Glacier Bay. Lewis 2000Lewis 2000 • Results showed pedestrians disturbed Results showed pedestrians disturbed

the highest percent of seals at 95% the highest percent of seals at 95% and caused the greatest average rate and caused the greatest average rate of disturbance - 84 seals per hour. of disturbance - 84 seals per hour.

• Average Average minimalminimal approach distance approach distance from hauled out seals for pedestrians from hauled out seals for pedestrians averaged 147 yards. averaged 147 yards.

Study conducted at Children’s Study conducted at Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla. Pool Beach in La Jolla. Yochem Yochem 20052005 • Disturbances associated with heavy Disturbances associated with heavy

demolition and construction activities demolition and construction activities only caused seals to flush into the only caused seals to flush into the water once.water once.

• In contrast, humans on land or in the In contrast, humans on land or in the water resulted in 144 flush events. water resulted in 144 flush events.

• Results reflect massive impact by Results reflect massive impact by humans on the La Jolla harbor seals. humans on the La Jolla harbor seals.

Behavioral responses of harbor Behavioral responses of harbor seals to human-induced seals to human-induced disturbancesdisturbances Anderson Anderson 20112011• Determined boundaries on land should Determined boundaries on land should

be >1,394 feet from the haul-out area to be >1,394 feet from the haul-out area to achieve adequate year-round protection achieve adequate year-round protection

• Observed seals more likely to flee from Observed seals more likely to flee from disturbances when they are without disturbances when they are without pups, since pups can’t flee as easily as pups, since pups can’t flee as easily as adultsadults

• Reinforces the need for protection Reinforces the need for protection during nonpupping season.during nonpupping season.

Clearly, the 20 foot Clearly, the 20 foot distance limit from hauled distance limit from hauled out seals currently in effect out seals currently in effect at Children’s Pool Beach is at Children’s Pool Beach is far less than the distances far less than the distances recommended in these recommended in these studies or by NOAA.studies or by NOAA.

SummarySummary

• Many scientific studies have shown Many scientific studies have shown that when humans get too close to that when humans get too close to marine mammals, they harass and marine mammals, they harass and disturb their normal behavior. disturb their normal behavior.

• When people unintentionally or When people unintentionally or intentionally disturb these animals, intentionally disturb these animals, it is a direct violation of the MMPA.it is a direct violation of the MMPA.

SummarySummary

• Without a rope, visitors routinely approach Without a rope, visitors routinely approach seals resting on the beach too closely, seals resting on the beach too closely, causing them to rush frantically into the causing them to rush frantically into the water. water.

• Year round use of this thin guideline rope Year round use of this thin guideline rope offers protection for the seals by sending a offers protection for the seals by sending a clear message to visitors to stay behind clear message to visitors to stay behind the rope when viewing the seals. the rope when viewing the seals.

Please grant the City’s request for a Please grant the City’s request for a year-round guideline rope at Children’s year-round guideline rope at Children’s Pool Beach to help alleviate the cruel Pool Beach to help alleviate the cruel

harassment currently being inflicted on harassment currently being inflicted on this seal rookery.this seal rookery.

ReferencesReferencesAndersen SM, Teilmann J et al. 2011. Behavioural responses of harbour Andersen SM, Teilmann J et al. 2011. Behavioural responses of harbour seals to human-induced disturbances, Aquatic Conservation: Mar. seals to human-induced disturbances, Aquatic Conservation: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 22:113-121.Freshw. Ecosyst. 22:113-121.Brasseur, S., J. Creuwels, B. Werf and P. Reijnders. 1996. Deprivation Brasseur, S., J. Creuwels, B. Werf and P. Reijnders. 1996. Deprivation indicates necessity for haul-out in harbor seals. Marine Mammal Science indicates necessity for haul-out in harbor seals. Marine Mammal Science 12(4):619-624.12(4):619-624.

Lewis TM, Mathews EA. 2000. Effects of human visitors on the behavior Lewis TM, Mathews EA. 2000. Effects of human visitors on the behavior of harbor seals (of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsiPhoca vitulina richardsi) at McBride Gracier Fjord, ) at McBride Gracier Fjord, Glacier Bay National Park. Report to Glacier Bay national Park, Resource Glacier Bay National Park. Report to Glacier Bay national Park, Resource Management Division.Management Division.

Yochem P. 2005. Summary of conclusions regarding the harbor seal Yochem P. 2005. Summary of conclusions regarding the harbor seal rookery at Children’s Pool Beach, La Jolla, CA. La Jolla Cove Wall rookery at Children’s Pool Beach, La Jolla, CA. La Jolla Cove Wall Replacement and Bluff Improvements Project (Sept 21, 2004 – Jan 1, Replacement and Bluff Improvements Project (Sept 21, 2004 – Jan 1, 2005). March 25, 2005. Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Paper. 2005). March 25, 2005. Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Paper.