As summer heats up, public reminded of marine protection act

As the days become longer and the weather warms along the California coast, the season migration of humans to the local beaches will soon begin in full swing.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is reminding the public that, as they visit their favorite ocean spot this year, they may encounter marine mammals using the beach and ocean year round which are protected from human interaction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

The MMPA prohibits human interaction with marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and dolphins that may be encountered on local beaches. Interaction includes feeding, dousing with water, petting, chasing, pushing or dragging a marine mammal back into the ocean, removing a newborn from the beach, or transporting an animal to a veterinary clinic or marine mammal center.

While the law is designed to protect the animals, it’s also helpful in protecting humans from injury by these animals that seem too cute to be dangerous. Humans who feel compelled to interact in some manner with marine mammals are not only breaking the law, but are likely doing the animal more harm than good. Healthy seals and sea lions often come ashore to rest, and healthy dolphins very rarely beach accidentally.

Animals that come ashore may be sick or injured and too weak to swim under their own power. If they’re pushed or chased back into the water, they will most likely perish. There have been recent instances in Southern California when well-meaning humans violated the MMPA and likely harmed or killed a marine mammal by their actions.

In Ventura County, a person removed a newborn harbor seal pup from a beach in Mussel Shoals, separating the animal from its mother and making it necessary for the animal to be taken into rehabilitation. These "Good Samaritans" as they were identified in some newscasts, took action that may have led to the animal’s demise. In addition, NOAA Fisheries is investigating both incidents as violations of the MMPA.

There are actions, however, that humans can take which may benefit marine mammals when they appear sick, wounded or in need of assistance. Humans should remain 25 to 50 feet away from the animal and call their local animal control agency or marine mammal care center, so that the animal’s condition can be evaluated by experts.

"It is our agency’s responsibility to determine why a particular marine mammal has washed ashore on a particular beach," said Joseph Cordaro, Coordinator of the California Marine Mammal Stranding Network. "We cannot do that if the general public attempts to displace that animal from the site, and they are actually interfering with a federal investigation when they attempt to do so."

The MMPA provides penalties for anyone convicted of violating the MMPA with a maximum fine of up to $12,000 and a possible one-year jail sentence. NOAA Fisheries is an agency under NOAA within the Department of Commerce.