News Release

Aquatic Park Cove Now Open For Swimming

Date: December 20, 2017
Contact: Lynn Cullivan, 415-561-7006

Because several Cove swimmers received serious marine mammal bites, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park closed the Aquatic Park Cove to swimming on Friday December 15, 2017. Over the past several days, however, park rangers have not observed any unusual marine mammal activity, and the park has received no new reports of animal bites. The park has therefore re-opened Aquatic Park Cove for swimming, but is posting signage along the beach to warn visitors about the recent marine mammal activity.

Although the immediate hazard seems to have passed, the park wishes to remind all visitors that marine mammals are wild animals, in their natural habitat, and that their behavior can be unpredictable. The frequency of recent sea mammal bites reported was abnormally high, but interactions between marine mammals and swimmers do occur. If visitors choose to swim, the park recommends that they take precautions, including keeping at least 50 feet away from sea lions or harbor seals. And, since the incidents seem to have occurred to solo swimmers, near the Cove entrance and/or in the central Cove area, the park also suggests staying close to the shore and swimming in groups, when possible. Because several Cove swimmers received serious marine mammal bites, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park closed the Aquatic Park Cove to swimming on Friday December 15, 2017. Over the past several days, however, park rangers have not observed any unusual marine mammal activity, and the park has received no new reports of animal bites. The park has therefore re-opened Aquatic Park Cove for swimming, but is posting signage along the beach to warn visitors about the recent marine mammal activity.

Although the immediate hazard seems to have passed, the park wishes to remind all visitors that marine mammals are wild animals, in their natural habitat, and that their behavior can be unpredictable. The frequency of recent sea mammal bites reported was abnormally high, but interactions between marine mammals and swimmers do occur. If visitors choose to swim, the park recommends that they take precautions, including keeping at least 50 feet away from sea lions or harbor seals. And, since the incidents seem to have occurred to solo swimmers, near the Cove entrance and/or in the central Cove area, the park also suggests staying close to the shore and swimming in groups, when possible.