The search is on for a man who harassed sea lions in Monterey near Fisherman's Wharf on Tuesday, Oct. 15, which was captured on camera and later posted to Facebook.
For several seconds, the man aggressively waved a strip of yellow caution tape in circles within a few feet of a number of sea lions, who were resting on a ledge near the Rec Trail between the wharf and the Coast Guard Pier, a favored gathering spot for sea lions this time of year.
Several sea lions abandoned their resting place, spilling off the ledge onto the rocks in rapid succession. The man then walked away, and the video does not provide any context before or after the incident that might indicate the man's motivations.
Under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, harassing—or even intentionally getting close to—marine mammals is illegal, and a statement from NOAA earlier today says the crime is punishable with up to a $34,457 fine and a year in prison.
NOAA law enforcement authorities, along with Monterey Police, are searching for leads to solve the case. Anyone with information is encouraged to call NOAA’s 24/7 enforcement hotline at (800) 853-1964 or report it online.
And as always, people can report a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal with West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at (866) 767-6114.
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