Aquatic Park Lagoon Remains Closed to Swimming

Date: November 17, 2006

For Immediate Release

Contact:  John Cunnane 415-561-7123

uPDATE 11/17/06:

Aquatic Park Lagoon Will Remain Closed For Swimming Through the Weekend (November 18-19) 

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park’s Aquatic Park Lagoon will remain closed to swimming throughout the weekend. Multiple swimmers received bites from a seal or sea lion in the lagoon from November 13-15, 2006. 

Because the park cannot determine if the animal is leaving the lagoon and returning, perhaps after feeding at another location, the park will continue to monitor the lagoon Saturday and Sunday, and will make a determination to reopen swimming on Monday, based on the weekend’s activities.

Today, November 17, a juvenile sea lion was observed entering Aquatic Park Lagoon from the east. It did not display any aggressive behavior. Neither of the AquaticPark swim clubs reported any incidents.

Ben Becker, a marine biologist at Point Reyes National Seashore, explained that the sea lion breeding season (which ended in June) takes place near the Channel Islands, off the southern California coast. At this time of the year, it is likely that the animal is simply taking a break from its winter migration northward up the coast.

Please check the park website for updated information: www.nps.gov/safr

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11/17/06