Prepare for pinniped presence

Though the summer crowds may not swarm Newport Beach for another couple of months, a different group of visitors will likely show up even earlier.

The annual wave of sea lions is expected to make their way into Newport Harbor in May and stay through October.

This year, the city is has stiffer penalties for property owners who don’t sea lion-proof their boats and moorings.

At the April 13 Newport Beach City Council meeting, the council members approved an ordinance that shortens the window between when the city notifies a property owner they need to put sea lion barricades on their boat or mooring and when they’re fined for not doing so.

Just a few years ago, when the sea lions in the harbor were starting to gain national attention, a boat or homeowner would get one month to put up sea lion barricades after the first warning and a second warning, giving them another week.

Effective May 12, when residents receive a letter to barricade their property, they have one week to get it set up before being slapped with a $100 fine. After that, fines increase to $200, then $500.

Violators can be fined every 24 hours after the first one is issued, city officials said.

But those pesky pinnipeds are pretty proficient at overpowering impediments on people’s property, and that’s why the city hired Chuck South.

For the third year in a row, Chuck South of the South Mooring Co. will patrol the harbor at night with his hose and a water cannon, which he will spray at sea lions grouped together and barking up a storm.

The city opened up the job for bids and South, who has been dealing with the sea lions the last two years, had the lowest bid, $13,500.

Next year, city officials estimate that he’ll patrol the harbor about 45 nights between July 1 and June 30.