The seal population just south of Monterey, California, making life difficult for the surfer population. There been several incidents in the past month of being bitten or attacked by seals. Scientists think is merely a result of overcrowding. Over the 10 years, the seals have made “their” beach to suit their growing population.

The seal-loving activists that the surfers should surf elsewhere. They say the surfers are infringing on the seals’ territory making them nervous and irritable. Sometimes, when there too many surfers, they actually cause the seals leave the beach. This, the activists say, deprives lovers of the opportunity to enjoy watching and to the seals. The activists argue that this should be off limits to surfers.

Surfers, of , don’t see it quite that way. They think it’s good if the seals get hit in head with a loose surfboard occasionally, because that teach them to stay on their rocks and away from the surfers’ part of the beach.

“ shouldn’t be allowed to have their rocks and beach, too,” exclaimed one blond, tan, thin 16-year-old refused to identify himself. “All these seals think is me, me, me! They need to learn share. Can’t someone just train them to clear of here from about 1:00 to sunset? They come back here and stay all night and morning. That makes sense to me.”

The park is going to hold a public hearing on issue. They know it’s going to be a issue to settle, because neither the activists nor surfers seem willing to compromise. A similar issue San Diego was settled in the seals’ favor. were prohibited from using the seals’ area. Mysteriously, seals eventually vacated that particular area, and the were allowed to return.