The California Coastal Commission is considering restricting public access to La Jolla Cove as a temporary measure to protect sea lions from further abuse. The discussion comes after an 18-year-old man seen on viral video kicking a sea lion at Point La Jolla confessed, this week, and was charged with violating the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. Visitors to La Jolla Cove, Saturday, stand on the stairway just a few feet from California sea lion pups and their mothers, La Jolla, Calif., August 15, 2026. The incident seemed to be a turning point in public concern over interactions between visitors and sea lions at the Cove which is open to swimmers, and the protected area nearby that is not. Point La Jolla has a sea wall and several signs warning people to stay away from the mammals who are in the middle of pupping season. Coastal commissioners discussed the issue Friday during a meeting in Santa Cruz, including whether a partial closure could help the population continue to grow. “A partial closure is really the only way to deal with the issue until the city can get their program implementation figured out and investigate what’s going on here,” California Coastal Commissioner Matt O’Malley said. In June, the city of San Diego and the Sierra Club Seal Society presented the Coastal Commission with a plan to protect sea lions during pupping season. The plan included additional park rangers as well as cones and security tape, but commissioners said problems have continued. Jamie Timmons and her husband, J.J. Timmons, were visiting San Diego from Atlanta for the first time and said visitors should be able to observe the sea lions without getting too close. “I don’t think we should have access. We should leave them alone, but still get to look at them,” J.J. Timmons said. “Definitely don’t want these animals harmed. This is such a beautiful thing to watch for visitors and locals. I would hate to have that taken away from them,” Jamie Timmons said. Commissioners also pointed to the central California city of Monterey, where the beach can be closed to people when sea lions are in pupping season. “When the sea lions are present there the city closes the beach to people. The sea lions do their pupping and then they leave,” California Coastal Commissioner Ann Notthoff said. A family of sea lions rests on the beach, Saturday, at Point La Jolla. Signs and barriers keep people away, La Jolla, Calif., August 15, 2026. Since June, 56 sea lion births have been recorded in the area of La Jolla Cove. Six verified deaths have occurred at the Cove, while two other pups died at Point La Jolla. The most recent death reported by the Seal Society happened last Thursday evening. Sea World San Diego rescuers had been monitoring the pup just the day before. A senior policy adviser for San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Emily Piatanesi, spoke virtually to coastal commissioners Friday. She said the city attorney is working to identify local or state laws that could allow lifeguards and park rangers to issue tickets to visitors who violate protections. Jamie and J.J. Timmons said they hope sea lions will still be there to see when they return to San Diego on their next vacation. 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