Judge Order Seals Must Go in 72 Hours

A judge in San Diego has ordered the City of San Diego to remove a group of seals from a man-made children's pool in the La Jolla Area. This area consists of a sea wall that was donated by a wealthy San Diegan, Ellen Scripps, way back in 1930 as a place where children can swim in safety without worrying about the strong currents and waves. I think I heard something about her will stating that the area must be used for that purpose and I guess there's other legal documents backing that up, including a state law.

This subject has been a long fought controversy over the last decade or so as the seals have settled in and even started breeding there. It's a big tourist attraction and many people around the area don't mind the seals being there. However, a lot of people want them to go because the area is supposed to be a children's swimming area and the seals have plenty of other places to go as they had before.

Defenders of the seals claim that the Marine Mammal Protection Act overrode a previous court order to remove the seals. However, just today, a judge has stated that the City of San Diego must remove the seals within 72 hours. If the city fails to do so, they will be fined. Seal advocates are mobilizing against this ruling and lawyers are trying to get an injunction against this order.

Here's a link to a site about the Children's Pool

*Update* They are planning to use sounds of barking dogs to drive them away. This method will cost the city about $700,000. They've been planning to use that method since about two or three legal fights back. Mayor Sanders says the seals will be dispersed as humanely as possible.

Just as this article was being written, news that the Governor of California has signed a bill in favor of the seals. However, it won't go into effect until January.