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Pinniped Predicament
My husband and I moved to San Diego a little less than two years ago. We didn't know about the seal colony when we moved here, but have been back many times to view the seals since first learning they were there. Any time visitors are in town, the seals are always right at the top of the must-see attractions list. They are a treasure to this city. It's amazing that we have the opportunity to view an entire seal colony from so close! I've loved going these past many weeks especially. Seeing the baby seals on the beach and watching them interact together is such a neat experience. And I have no doubt that those seals bring a ton of money to La Jolla - there are always tons of people there solely to admire the seals every time I visit. I'm so surprised by the amount of debate over the seals. Even reading this article, and the comments posted below it - all I can say is: Wow. Is the person writing the article one of the divers fighting to kick the seals off the beach? And as far as the comments are concerned - why can't people just stick to the facts without all this fear-mongering, worst-case-scenario, we'll-all-get-eaten-by-sharks, let's-take-matters-into-our-own-hands-and-off-seals-in-our-time mumbo jumbo? We're talking about a tiny piece of land in a city that is lacking anything but coastline. We have tons of it. And we have the bay. Our kids are so lucky to be raised in a city that has so much to offer them in terms of ocean and entertainment. As a couple actively working to conceive, my husband and I have become more passionate about this seal issue. We want our children to have the best of everything. And that means access to the treasure that is the seal colony. I want my children to be able to grow up witnessing wildlife in a pure form, in its natural habitat. How much does Sea World pull in every year just in admissions tickets? People pay big bucks to enter through a gate and view marine life from behind glass en masse every single day. We get to see and enjoy it any day of the year, for free. That is an amazing boon to our existence here in America's Finest City, and we should appreciate it instead of letting a small minority of very vocal divers rob this treasure from our children under the guise of "protecting" this beach for our children. Seals or no seals, it's not a good place for kids. The water is contaminated and it's surrounded by sharp rocks. No responsible parent would let their kids anywhere close to this pool. I wouldn't. I'd rather take my children to a place that wasn't tainted by run-off and other dangers. Luckily, I live in San Diego - a city abounding with such places. Give our kids the best of everything. Allow them amazing places to swim and frolic, AND allow them the opportunity to grow up with an appreciation for wildlife by giving them the opportunity to visit this single tiny little beach to view the San Diego Seal Colony.— March 16, 2010 12:43 p.m.