A week ago, a disturbing video went viral on social media that appeared to show a young man assaulting a California sea lion at La Jolla Cove. A federal investigation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) into the incident has since been started. As of Thursday, there has been no official identification of suspects seen in the video. The cell phone video first posted on Snapchat and then Instagram showed a young man kicking and chasing a sea lion that was resting on a protection wall at the Cove. “I’m going to continue speaking up to protect these animals,” said Eric Fletcher, an ocean swimmer and former member of the La Jolla Town Council. “If I was kicking a dog or something like that I’d be in jail right now,” he said. Fletcher is a long-time environmental activist who is especially passionate abour marine mammels he shares the ocean water with. A colony of California sea lions rests on the rocks at Point La Jolla on July 30, 2026. “I watch them take care of their babies. I watch them love each other,” Fletcher told NBC San Diego on Thursday, while pointing out the location along the seawall where the assault was recorded. The area continued to be filled with people this week trying to get a close look at the colony of sea lions that grows to several hundred during the summer season. San Diego city park rangers work to educate visitors about keeping a safe distance from wildlife, but they do not have authority to enforce federal laws protecting marine mammals. In a statement to NBC San Diego, a spokesperson for NOAA’s West Coast Region said, “This is an ongoing investigation by NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement, and we cannot provide further details at this time.” The agency also confirmed that under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, anyone who harasses, harms or feeds sea lions at La Jolla Cove could face fines and jail time. This is an ongoing investigation by NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement, and we cannot provide further details at this time.Michael Milstein, spokesman, NOAA West Coast Region A San Diego park ranger recovered a water bottle dropped by a family accidentally into the protected area of sea lions in La Jolla, California, on July 30, 2026. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said Tuesday the city is assisting with the investigation. “We are in direct contact with federal officials and will fully support their efforts to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” Gloria said in written statement released to the media. “This is their home, actually, and we’re just kind of borrowing it from them [sea lions],” said Maria Osorio who was visiting from Los Angeles this week with her grandson. “We have to make sure that we protect them,” she said. Despite the disturbing nature of the video, Fletcher said he hopes the widespread attention leads to greater awareness and protection for the animals. He said, “the only bright side I see about this video is it got the attention on an international level that needs to be here.” A visitor snaps a photo of sea lions resting on the rocks, La Jolla, California, on July 30. 2026. If you witness a potential violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the best way you can help is to report the incident immediately to the NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement at (800) 853-1964. Investigators are also interested in hearing from anyone who has information about the assault on video that happened late at night on July 22, 2026 at La Jolla Cove. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less