NOAA launches investigation after video shows person kicking sea lion at La Jolla Cove

Federal wildlife authorities are investigating a video that appears to show a person kicking a sea lion at La Jolla Cove in San Diego. A spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said NOAA Fisheries' Office of Law Enforcement is reviewing the footage, but declined to provide further details.

The clip shows the individual repeatedly kicking the animal as it tries to move away, with at least one other person audible laughing in the background. The person has not been identified publicly.

NOAA noted that only four enforcement officers cover the entire state of California and that the agency relies on partnerships with local park rangers and California Fish and Wildlife for presence at the cove. Volunteer Ashley Hurwitz of the Seal Society said volunteers cannot provide constant enforcement.

Sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which imposes civil penalties of up to $36,000 and up to a year in prison for harassment. NOAA guidelines advise the public to stay at least 50 feet away from marine mammals.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the incident is unacceptable and directed local law enforcement to review the footage. The Sierra Club's Seal Society estimates ten sea-lion pup deaths at La Jolla Cove this year, attributing some to human disturbance.