Rope not installed – chaos at the beach during Memorial Day weekend
May 31, 2010 – 4:42 pmDear All Who Care,
Mayor Sanders is stalling the emergency rope permit approval. He will wait until June 3 to decide whether or not to veto the council resolution, then have another 10 days to decide whether to declare an emergency as the council requested and put the rope up right away.
PLEASE CALL MAYOR’S OFFICE AND URGE HIM TO APPROVE THE EMERGENCY PERMIT FOR THE ROPE GUIDELINE TO PROTECT THE SEALS ASAP!
(619) 236-6330.
Without the rope guideline, chaos will continue at the seal beach.
Here’s the video from last weekend:
Seals and pro-seal activists experienced lots of abuse during this Memorial Day holiday. Anti-seal and anti-public forces set up a table staffed with hired thugs in order to block us from setting our booth at a regular location. We moved our booth next to the lifeguard tower. Thugs paid by Melinda Merriweather and Debbie Beachum, long time anti-seal activists, were selling t-shirts encouraging unaware first time visitors to the area to invade the beach.
Surely enough the crowd stormed down and scared all seals off the beach and off the rocks
John Leek “patrolled” the beach impersonating a ranger:
Anti-seal people could not choose a worse representative for their cause – David Johnson was “loosing it” being laughed at and simply trashed by the public:
Police was called many times as the visitors were very upset with seal harassment and with Johnson who was acting in a psychotic manner calling people names like “stupid” etc. when unable to win the argument
Just after 4 PM, Pattie from LJFS was finally able to keep people away from the west corner of the beach and seals started coming back right away
At sunset we could finally enjoy seeing peacefully resting seals
When I arrived at the beach early morning on Sunday, two empty tables were blocking our usual booth space once again.
When I started setting up a booth by the lifeguard tower, Debbie Beachum ordered her hired thug to block me over there: he ran towards me placing another empty table right in front of my booth
The guy rudely interrupted every conversation I had with the visitors contradicting my statements and telling people to go on the beach. Fortunately, the anti-seal people have no stamina – they left after 11 AM.
After they left, the beach became more peaceful for a while once again. Lifeguards placed two “Caution” signs at the beach – the signs helped a bit to keep people away from the seals (they are much less effective than the rope).
Not for long though: this guy decided to swim right in the middle of the “pool” and scared a lot of seals off the beach:
Here’s a set of pictures taken by prof. Moore showing flushing of the seals by a couple:
Barb brought us a large banner and helped us at the booth for several hours
Thank you Barb, the banner is fantastic!
PLEASE CALL THE MAYOR. THIS INSANITY NEEDS TO BE STOPPED RIGHT NOW!
Thank You All!
Dorota
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23 Comments! WOW! Read Below what others are saying.
shame on the mom’s and dad’s teaching their kids to break the laws..i watch the viedo..with that fat and bald headed old man taking a dip with the seals..shame on you..I will be callin the mayor’s office first thing in the moring,,,,we need to learn to live with what god gave us…am very upset that i am a calif native..to all the ugly people out there shame on you…am not going to say anymore…yes i live in kansas..but calif is still my life….GOD BLESS THE SEALS..AND SHAME ON YOU OTHERS…kimmie
By kimmie on Jun 1, 2010
No laws were broken. Should everybody move out of the city because people might make some pigeons fly?
If you think a law was broken, cite the law. The police come out over and over, and can not find any laws being broken. The lifeguards watching the beach also say no laws are being broken. I called NOAA myself, and was told by the enforcement agent that in order to harass seals, I would have to wave my hands and run and chase the seals. Not only that, my intention would have to be to bother the seals. If my intention is something else (say, protecting my lunch) I am not in violation. This was confirmed when I did some research on the laws.
Why not protect the fish, brittle stars, starfish, octopi, sea hares and the green sea turtles? They are in more need of protecting. While there were all these things to see before, they have all disapeard. People used to come from all over the world to see the unique world class diving that used to be here. Now it is mostly all gone. The seals aren’t only eating everything from around that beach, but from every beach in the area with rocks for these animals to hide in. Who will protect them? Help those animals recover?
By cyberKICK on Jun 1, 2010
No laws were broken. Should everybody move out of the city because people might make some pigeons fly?
If you think a law was broken, cite the law. The police come out over and over, and can not find any laws being broken. The lifeguards watching the beach also say no laws are being broken. I called NOAA myself, and was told by the enforcement agent that in order to harass seals, I would have to wave my hands and run and chase the seals. Not only that, my intention would have to be to bother the seals. If my intention is something else (say, protecting my lunch) I am not in violation. This was confirmed when I did some research on the laws.
Why not protect the fish, brittle stars, starfish, octopi, sea hares and the green sea turtles? They are in more need of protecting. While there were all these things to see before, they have all disapeard. People used to come from all over the world to see the unique world class diving that used to be here. Now it is mostly all gone. The seals aren’t only eating everything from around that beach, but from every beach in the area with rocks for these animals to hide in. Who will protect them? Help those animals recover?
By cyberKICK on Jun 1, 2010
I am from New York and come at least 4 times a year and stay for about a week. I come to watch the seals everyday while I am in Ca. It is horrible what these people are doing to these peaceful animals. Don’t they have anything better to do with there life? Walk a few feet away and go for a swim. Why must it be where the seals are resting. Respectfully, Pamela Filasky
By pamela on Jun 1, 2010
People seem to forget, or didn’t know, that the Sea Wall was specifically designed to protect the beach from waves so that children could swim in the Ocean, not become a seal resting place. Seals can live anywhere along the coast, and do. They are not in any danger and as this web site points out, as soon as the people leave, the seals come back onto the beach. People are not scaring the seals away. They are simply resting someplace else, like Seal Rock just North of The Children’s Pool where people can look at them as long as they like. Unfortunately, people who want to look at fish or other sea life will have to go somewhere else since there are too many seals for other sea life to survive here.
By Balanced on Jun 1, 2010
Why don’t you look at the seals on the east coast? They are there too.
By cyberKICK on Jun 1, 2010
In fact, I just did a quick google search, and according to what I found, they like in New York. So, you could see them every day if you wanted to.
By cyberKICK on Jun 1, 2010
I am curious why Seal Watch isn’t more proactive in asking people to stay off the beach. Maybe put someone at the base of the stairs to inform people of the risk. It would seem to be more effective than just passively selling t-shirts on the sidewalk.
By Dawn on Jun 2, 2010
@Dawn. Your question should really be: “Why was I , Dawn, passive when I saw bad things happening to the seals and why didn’t I do something about it? Why I Dawn, wasn’t asking people to respect SealWatch signs by not going on the beach”
By Dorota on Jun 3, 2010
Remember The California Coastal Act says:
Section 30211 Development not to interfere with access
Development shall not interfere with the public’s right of access to the sea where acquired through use or legislative authorization, including, but not limited to, the use of dry sand and rocky coastal beaches to the first line of terrestrial vegetation. (The beach has been in use for swimming since 1931)
Section 30220 Protection of certain water-oriented activities
Coastal areas suited for water-oriented recreational activities that cannot readily be provided at inland water areas shall be protected for such uses. (The wall was specifically designed to protects the beach from waves so children can swim in the ocean)
Section 30230 Marine resources; maintenance
Marine resources shall be maintained, enhanced, and where feasible, restored. Special protection shall be given to areas and species of special biological or economic significance. Uses of the marine environment shall be carried out in a manner that will sustain the biological productivity of coastal waters and that will maintain healthy populations of all species of marine organisms adequate for long-term commercial, recreational, scientific, and educational purposes.(Says ALL SPECIES, not just seals, and since fishing is specifically allowed, the fish must be protected)
I hope that the Coastal Commission upholds the Law and puts an end to this madness.
By Balanced on Jun 3, 2010
Well, Mr “Balanced” you seem to be missin the point. The wall was a gift to the children for the purpose of allowing them to swim in the ocean, because there is not 1 single beach in all of San Diego without rip-tides, undertows and strong currents. It was decided that there was a need for this pool in order to allow small children to experience the water without fear of being swept out, or having to deal with waves. The government made promises. She (Ellen Browning Scrips) made the mistake of believing the government. Nobody should ever make a gift to anyone with the expectation that promises will be held. The government should lie whenever convienent to get what it wants.
Second, the law doesn’t apply to this beach as clearly the common seal is on the bring of extinction.
Thirdly, the other animals which are now at risk of being forever lost in this area aren’t nearly as significant as havig 100′s of seals.
What we need, is to spend millions of dollars to protect the children from these now diseased beaches and build new ones. Then we should import new wildlife to restore the diving and such. Rocks will be needed for these restored animals to hide in, and of course we’ll need to feed the 100′s and someday 1000′s of seals so that they don’t eat all the imported wildlife. Perhaps we can put in an underwater electronic fence or a force-field to protect the imported wild life, and we can have buckets of fish delivered to the seals every day so that they don’t have to go in the water and swim. Perhaps some umprellas and sunglasses too…
By cyberKICK on Jun 3, 2010
Where is the Ranger that was already paid for (privately and annoymously)?
By cyberKICK on Jun 7, 2010
Nice Dorota. Keep off any comments that question what you do (or should I say, don’t do). Don’t respond to reasonable questions from the public. Keep living in your own irrational world selling t-shirts.
By Dawn on Jun 8, 2010
Your hypocrisy is crystal clear Dorota. You accuse the public of harassment although your organization and it’s supporters harass people who try to use the beach. You label beach goers
as anti-seal and try to blame them for the lack
of peace. You are the one disturbing the peace with your bullhorns. You are the one who is abusive, not people on the beach trying to take their picture near the seals. Your youtube clip showed no “chaos.” It proves that you are unreasonable. When seals flush, they are merely acting distinctively and avoiding human contact. It’s normal behavior you idiot.
You should try to act normal like the beach-going public instead of trying to force your whacked out viewpoint down the throats of good people.
By people come first on Jun 8, 2010
It is all about selling t-shirts. Otherwise they would be supporting the idea of a ranger instead of a rope.
By cyberKICK on Jun 8, 2010
Actually, humans are so spread out all over the coast, many seals have lost their beaches. they are actually quite affected by pesticides from runoff, crowded beaches of humans, plastic pollution, discarded fishing gear, boat propellors….the list goes on and on.
I think all the people who don’t want the seals are really narrow minded and, probably ignorant, about the larger threats to marine mammals. You say “people first”, but without nature to support life we humans can’t really survive anyway. I know it’s easier to think that we humans are enough to keep the world turning, but that just is not so.
Ropes are used all over the california coast to protect animals and birds. There are conflicts between user groups, but generally time and positive dialogue solve lots of the kinks. Over time most people come to respect nature as a result. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
The seawall was a human engineered solution for a kiddie pool, well…..other beings we share the planet with used it as an opportunity to rest and have their babies….the survival of their species. Maybe this beach is for educating children about the beauty and awesomeness on our planet and when they do swim in the ocean, they will know it is a diverse and amazing place!
Sad to me the seaside town of La Jolla even has to debate this issue. Keep fighting for those seals!
p.s. I think cyberKICK needs a hug….
By beachkat on Jun 8, 2010
beachkat: Why do the marine biologists say theis beach is insignificant to the seals? Also, the seals didn’t “use it as an opprotunity” but were placed there after being helps for extended stays at seal world. Are you willing to give up your home if termites decide it will make a good lunch? Do you think that if seals land on our Naval submarines we should give up those subs?
By cyberKICK on Jun 11, 2010
What a great resource!
By certified pharmacy technician on Jun 12, 2010
pamela, I noticed you never answered… figures.
By cyberKICK on Jun 16, 2010
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!
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By physician assistant on Jun 29, 2010
I was there yesterday & almost clubbed a couple of asshole anti seal humans. Should have known that CA is the place where a couple of rotten fruits & nuts spoil the bunch.
By vvvig on Sep 7, 2010