Ask California Legislators to Protect San Diego Seals

When California deeded Casa beach to the City of San Diego in 1931, it listed a number of permissible uses for the beach, including swimming. Because the city's interpretation of the deed puts recreation before conservation, swimmers and sunbathers who want Casa Beach all to themselves have harassed harbor seals at the beach. Some seals have suffered injury and death as a result. The State Legislature could at any time change the terms of the trust to explicitly require the City to protect the seals. Please Take Action to ask your state legislators to sponsor legislation that would change the terms of the 1931 state tidelands grant to protect the seals.

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Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

I am writing, as a constituent, voter, and concerned citizen, to ask that you please sponsor legislation to change the terms of the 1931 state tidelands grant regarding Casa Beach in San Diego to protect the harbor seals who give birth and raise their pups there.

(Edit Letter Below)

When California deeded the beach to the City of San Diego in 1931, it listed a number of permissible uses for the beach, one of them being swimming, which has taken precedence over protecting the seals. In 2005, the San Diego City Council voted to overturn a city ordinance and remove warning signs and physical barriers that protect seals in a small cove on the beach, the only nearby habitat where the marine mammals can give birth and raise their young. A court ruling also claimed that seals interfere with swimming, and therefore the City must remove most of the sand the seals rest on.

Swimmers and sunbathers started harassing seals, and some suffered human-related injuries and death as a result. Fortunately, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals recently handed down an emergency motion that allows a rope to be put up during pupping season to protect seals from harassment, but this is only a temporary solution to protect the seals while the issue continues to be debated. I urge you to please give the seals permanent protection by sponsoring legislation to change the terms of the 1931 state tidelands grant regarding Casa Beach.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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