Next time you see something like that happen, contact the coast guard. The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects marine mammals from this kind of harassment. See the below (fines can be heavier): ______________________________________________ La Jolla Swimmers Assessed Fine For Harassing Harbor Seals http://swfsc.nmfs.noaa.gov/What's%20New/LaJollaswimmers.htm NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement has assessed civil penalties against a group of swimmers for violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act for harassing harbor seals at Children's Pool Beach in La Jolla, California. Paul Ortiz, senior enforcement attorney for NOAA Fisheries Southwest Region, assessed nine swimmers $1,000 each in a Notice of Violation and Assessment for disrupting harbor seals at Children's Pool Beach in La Jolla on March 23, 2003. Approximately 50 seals fled the beach in response to the groups' swim from another area into the Children's Pool Beach, where the seals reside. The potential impact on the seals was increased as the violation occurred during the pupping season, which occurs between late February and late May. During this time, a mother seal bonds with her pup until it is weaned; about seven weeks after birth. A mother may abandon her pup if they become separated during this time. And another more serious incident that could result in not only fines, but jail time: Rare Charges Filed In Wounding Of Sea Lion http://www.tmmc.org/learning/comm/nytimes_crossbow_charges_.asp Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Feb 09 2004 - 01:42:33 PST
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