Teen pleads guilty to Marine Mammal Protection Act violation after sea lion attack in La Jolla

An 18-year-old resident of La Jolla, California, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act after a video showed him kicking a sea lion at La Jolla Cove. The incident, captured on a cellphone and later shared on social media, depicted the teen approaching the animal, striking it four times and pursuing it as it tried to flee.

The court record indicates the defendant admitted to striking the sea lion on two occasions near its face, causing the animal to recoil and attempt to escape over a sea wall. After the second strike, he continued to chase and kick the animal a third and fourth time before it finally reached the beach.

"Federal crime. Federal consequences," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.

"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement takes all violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act very seriously. Intentionally striking or kicking a marine mammal is not only illegal—it is dangerous for the well-being of the animal," said NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division Assistant Director Eric Morgan.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the term “take” includes harassment that may injure or disrupt a marine mammal’s natural behavior. The misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.