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.”
