An unwelcome mat for local sea lions

Council will consider new rules to prevent pinniped loitering.Many of the sea lions that plagued Newport Beach’s waterfront residents and boat owners last summer have left the harbor for now, but if they come back, city officials plan to be ready.

The council on Tuesday will consider new rules for humans that aim to discourage sea lions from climbing aboard boats and noisily loitering in the harbor.

The rules, proposed by the city’s harbor commission late last year, would ban feeding any undomesticated animals -- specifically by throwing food or fish parts into the bay. They also would require boat owners to take steps to prevent sea lions from boarding their vessels -- by keeping boat covers tied down tightly and lifting the swim step, for example.

“I totally concur with what they’re proposing,” said Balboa Peninsula resident Dan Gilliland, who in June petitioned to have a barge for raising sea bass removed from the harbor because it attracted noisy sea lions.

Citations and fines could be given to people who don’t obey the rules. But the city will also try to educate people who rent or own docks and boat slips as well as commercial and charter fishing operators.

There always seem to be some sea lions around, but it’s unclear why the number of sea lions in the harbor increased to nuisance levels last year. Nearly as big of a mystery is whether the proposed rules will work.

“That’s the big question, and I think in adopting this ordinance we’re assuming it’s going to help, but we don’t know for sure,” Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said.

The council will also consider giving a new permit to the Balboa Angling Club to keep the barge that holds white sea bass pens in the harbor.

The sea bass pens were once a popular draw for sea lions, which would lounge on the barge’s deck.

The club has since made changes to keep the pinnipeds away, but the new permit would set rules for the maintenance and operations of the pens, and the council could consider moving the barge to a different mooring.

20060120imis7bncDAILY PILOT(LA)New rules proposed for Newport Harbor could deprive sea lions of convenient sunbathing spots aboard docked or moored boats.