LA JOLLA – Recent King Tides in La Jolla and the crowds they drew also spotlighted a growing concern: Beachcombers checking out the tide pools at extreme low tide, damaging or destroying wildlife.
The low tides led to numerous transgressions of what might be termed proper “tide pool protocol,” as people were witnessed picking up marine life, along with bringing buckets and stealing lobsters and crabs. Both children and adults were seen walking on and crushing crustaceans.
So, what exactly are the dos and don’ts of proper conduct while tide pooling?
Cari Paulenich, director of education at Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, offered a few important tips to keep in mind to protect yourself — and the wildlife you’re viewing — when visiting tide pools.
“Watch your step and stay alert for incoming waves and make sure you aren’t stepping on any animals,” Paulenich said. “Anemones can look like small piles of shells when they’re exposed to air, and other creatures love to hide among the seaweed. Stick to stepping on sandy spots or bare rocks to avoid slippery algae and to prevent disturbing these fascinating animals.”
Added Paulenich: “Many tide pool animals use rocks and shells as a habitat, so it’s best not to move them. Your eyes are your best tools — look for small movements and little details. The most exciting discoveries can easily go unnoticed. Take your time and tread lightly, especially during busy tide pooling days.”
Cypress Hansen, who owns and operates North Star Naturalist, which offers guided nature tours including at La Jolla’s tide pools, warned that coastal wildlife needs — and deserves — greater protection.
“The tidepools are extremely rare, extremely biodiverse, and now, extremely popular,” she said. “Rocky intertidal zones occupy just five square miles across all of California. Yet they contain some of the highest biodiversity of any habitat in the state.”
Consequently, noted Hansen, “This tiny strip of life is now overwhelmed by unprecedented visitation, and there is next to no monitoring and enforcement.”
Hansen argued that signage alone will not protect the tide pools.
“The most realistic solution is a permanent, trained volunteer corps specifically for the tide pools — educating visitors in real time on the habitat’s fragility and calling in violations when needed,” she said.
“The goal is sustainable exploration — an understanding that each of our footsteps contributes to a collective pressure on this rare habitat.”
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