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Seal dispute on San Diego beach | Seal dispute on San Diego beach |
(1 day later) | |
The Californian city of San Diego has been given 72 hours to remove harbour seals from a small beach area originally designated for children. | The Californian city of San Diego has been given 72 hours to remove harbour seals from a small beach area originally designated for children. |
They were ordered by a judge to comply with an earlier order to clean up the Children's Pool at La Jolla beach. | They were ordered by a judge to comply with an earlier order to clean up the Children's Pool at La Jolla beach. |
But lawyers for seal activists are planning to file a motion to block the move in what has been a decades-long battle over the issue. | |
The city plans to use the sound of barking dogs to scare off the seals. | The city plans to use the sound of barking dogs to scare off the seals. |
They cannot use force because the seals are a federally-protected marine species. | They cannot use force because the seals are a federally-protected marine species. |
"We can't harm the seals in any way. Any method we use basically has to be benign," said Andrew Jones, assistant attorney for civil litigation. | "We can't harm the seals in any way. Any method we use basically has to be benign," said Andrew Jones, assistant attorney for civil litigation. |
He said the city planned to pay someone to walk along the beach with a public address system broadcasting the sounds of dogs - backed up by two police officers in case of trouble. | He said the city planned to pay someone to walk along the beach with a public address system broadcasting the sounds of dogs - backed up by two police officers in case of trouble. |
"There's certainly a lot of emotions revolving around this issue," he was quoted by Associated Press as saying. | |
"We expect that this person could be harassed, even physically attacked". | "We expect that this person could be harassed, even physically attacked". |
City warning | City warning |
San Diego County Superior Court Judge Yuri Hoffman ruled on Monday that state law requires the beach be kept clean for children under a 1931 deed to the property. | San Diego County Superior Court Judge Yuri Hoffman ruled on Monday that state law requires the beach be kept clean for children under a 1931 deed to the property. |
If [the seals] don't get their rest, their health will be jeopardised and the local community will also suffer a huge economic cost Dorota ValliSeal Watch | If [the seals] don't get their rest, their health will be jeopardised and the local community will also suffer a huge economic cost Dorota ValliSeal Watch |
He ordered the city to comply with a 2005 order by another judge to restore the beach to its original condition. | He ordered the city to comply with a 2005 order by another judge to restore the beach to its original condition. |
However, supporters of the seals would like the area to be preserved as a sanctuary. | |
"The seals need rest each day," Dorota Valli, Seal Watch campaign coordinator, told AP. | |
"If they don't get their rest, their health will be jeopardised and the local community will also suffer a huge economic cost. It's an enormous tourist draw". | "If they don't get their rest, their health will be jeopardised and the local community will also suffer a huge economic cost. It's an enormous tourist draw". |
The Children's Pool - created by a sea wall built in 1931 through a gift by a La Jolla philanthropist - was donated to the city on condition it became a public area. | The Children's Pool - created by a sea wall built in 1931 through a gift by a La Jolla philanthropist - was donated to the city on condition it became a public area. |
The seals began patronising the area in increasing numbers during the 1990s, AP reports. | |
Despite a city warning in 1997 not to use the pool because of high levels of bacteria from seal waste, people still continue to swim there. | Despite a city warning in 1997 not to use the pool because of high levels of bacteria from seal waste, people still continue to swim there. |
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