‘Seal-cam’ to let world see seals on the beach in La Jolla

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The seals on the beach at the Children’s Pool in La Jolla -- the objects of two decades of litigation and political bickering -- now have their own ‘seal cam’ so the public can watch them all day, every day.

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner announced Thursday that a camera has been installed atop the lifeguard tower and is aimed at the beach where the seals lounge and give birth to their pups. The cam is being paid for by the nonprofit Western Alliance for Nature.

The camera is equipped with night vision capability. The cam will stream video on the mayor’s website, www.sandiego.gov/mayor, and will also be on City TV Channel 24 in the city of San Diego, between council meetings.

The camera will allow an ‘up-close view of these amazing creatures to not just San Diegans but people all over the world,’ said Western Alliance for Nature co-founder Sara Win.

Amazing, yes, but also controversial. The dispute continues between people who say the seals should be allowed to remain on the beach and people who say the seals should be shooed away so that other people, particularly children, can use the beach more expansively.

Much of that dispute has occurred in federal court, where cameras are not allowed.

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Photo: Seals (and people) on the beach at the Children’s Pool in La Jolla. Credit: Los Angeles Times