If you happened to venture down to San Carlos Beach in Monterey these past few months, you were probably greeted by the barking and strong odors of California sea lions, and then treated to the sight of over 2,000 sea lions frolicking on the beach. This led to the city of Monterey closing the beach from Aug. 17-Oct. 4. Divers clad in wetsuits, people lazing on the grassy slopes and children splashing in the shallows have now returned, but the sea lions have yet to leave the Monterey shoreline. Large numbers have recently moved to Sister City Park and have taken up residency on the rocky shore, docks, launch ramps and boats.
California sea lions are in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary year round, and their population is increasing. One reason for their population growth is due to passing of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. According to Dr. Daniel Costa, a prominent marine mammalogist, “In 1972, we estimated a population of about 89,000 sea lions from Baja California to Washington state. With protection, in 2024, the California sea lion population was estimated to be around 260,000 individuals. This remarkable recovery occurred despite losing sea lions in fishing gear and other human interactions.”
In August, adult males are migrating north from Southern California, drawn to the sanctuary to feed on the abundance of nearshore small fish such as anchovies and sardines. Costa explains that “we now have both a recovering population and a population that may be moving north due to changing habitat.”
If you have taken a walk along the coast recently, you may have seen shimmering scales of anchovy bait balls beneath the surface (or dead anchovies washed up on the shore). With key prey species abundant in the bay, it is a great time of year to see incredible marine animals or go whale watching in the sanctuary, which is often known as the “Serengeti of the Sea.” The bay’s unique topography leads to significant upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water, which fuels blooms of plankton, the main source of prey for the marine food web. The presence of sea lions is a sign of a healthy sanctuary.
This August, the California sea lions utilized San Carlos beach as their primary haul out site. MBNMS staff and Bay Net volunteers have been working closely with the city of Monterey to keep the sea lions and wildlife viewers safe. Karen Grimmer, MBNMS Resource Protection Coordination, explains, “The sheer number of animals at San Carlos beach have kept our staff and volunteers very busy with putting up signs, coordinating with the city on barriers, and responding to questions about the animals. We have reached out to local dive shops and clubs, which have been very responsive by avoiding use of the beach.”
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Bay Net volunteers are stationed where the sea lions are present – along the coastal walking path and San Carlos beach – educating the public about sea lions and responsible wildlife viewing for human and wildlife safety. Marge Brigadier, a Bay Net volunteer, says, “People just need to think about how they would feel if they were resting on their bed taking a nap and something big kept coming and chasing them out of the house.”
The sanctuary coordinates with the Marine Mammal Center, which advocates for keeping wildlife wild. Touching, moving, feeding, or crowding of marine mammals and dog chasing and bites are considered harassment and prohibited by law. The sanctuary and the MMC encourage wildlife viewers to keep their distance (150 feet), use a zoom to take pictures (no selfies!), keep dogs on a leash, and to call the MMC (415-289-SEAL (7325)) if an animal is in distress. As the barking starts to wind down, take a moment to safely enjoy the wonder of nature directly on our doorstep here in Monterey Bay.
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