Join the Movement
The Marine Mammal Coexistence Initiative is dedicated to fostering a positive relationship between the people and wildlife that share one of San Diego’s most popular shores, La Jolla.
With your help, we can safeguard, celebrate, and support our iconic Harbor Seal and California Sea Lion breeding populations, while encouraging all who come to recreate here to coexist with these magnificent marine mammals.
Our key initiatives are:
To promote awareness of marine mammal-friendly actions, including using our "Share the Shore" guidelines to help our wildlife thrive.
To advocate for lawmakers to strengthen regulations that reduce conflict and enhance coexistence between marine mammals and people, especially during the pupping seasons.
To encourage community involvement.
There are lots of ways that you can take action to help protect marine mammals.
Ways to Take Action
Share the Shore
The best thing you can do to protect marine mammals on land is to give them space.
Give seals and sea lions space: always stay at least 50 ft. away, don’t surround, corner or block their path
Don’t scare them: watch quietly – avoid shouting or clapping – and move slowly.
Keep your hands to yourself: Never attempt to touch or pet, follow or chase, or throw any item at them
Only take long-distance selfies: If you are going to use a cell phone to get a selfie, used forced preceptive, so that you are keeping your distance.
Keep your fury friends at home: Keep dogs away from marine mammals
Don’t use flashlights at night: it disturbs their sleep
Read their behavior: if they look up, move or bark – they have been disturbed so move away quietly.
Host an Event
Spreading the word is the best way that we can get others to care about marine mammals as well. You can do this by letting others know about the Marine Mammal Coexistence Initiative, or better yet host an event. This could be a presentation to your group, a space to hold a photo exhibit or a fundraiser.
Make a Donation
Making a donation to the project directly helps support the important work that we do at the Marine Mammal Coexistence Initiative. It funds outreach materials, exhibit costs and media assets.
Spread the Word
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not!”