Hi Jayna, hope you had/have a nice time on the FL beach!

Yes, Garibaldi are fish that have become all but extinct at our cove, overtaken as it is by huge populations of seal and sea lion species. The Garibaldi were plentiful, yet now a rare sight. They are big like large full-size pancakes, maybe bigger. It's difficult to get the true perspective from either shore or cliff top.

We have a protected kelp forest surrounding the cove, and I imagine my orange friends hiding there. I doubt that seals are put off by the tangle of kelp. I depicted Potsy as too lazy a fellow to invade the deeps, a fantasy to justify my cherished illusion, that our Garibaldi still thrive there. The kelp forest must provide sea mammals with plenty of food, though I'd have to consult my oceanographer friend. You've inspired me to perhaps investigate what is really going on down there...

However, I have witnessed how swift seals and sea lions are in leaping off rocks to protect territory from new seals, though any such notion is moot today. Eye witness accounts of such savage sea mammal fighting is less common though they do fuss at one another. Currently they must coexist in a melting-pot of seal and sea lion species. These cover all the beach and rocks they desire for sunbathing, mating, birth and pup-rearing activities.

The really terrible part for humans (other than we long time locals lamenting the disappearance of our loved Garibaldi) is the bio-hazard not to mention stench from pounds and pounds of excrement. Mucho dinero have been spent on things ranging from a biodegradable foam that dissolves it off the rocks, with the side benefit of feeding the ocean with whatever new substance the mixture creates. To a sea mammal-whisperer, attempting to coax the beasties to swim to islands or beaches less coveted by the humans.

To date, the sea-mammals are unmoved by any such imaginative and legal human intervention. Yes, this is a protected species, though in certain tree-forested areas of the world we have hunters to cull the deer populations...

Folks with ocean-front property can't open their windows to let the salt air in... Visitors, I am amazed to observe, are willing to walk among the muck and ignore lifeguard and posted warnings. Seals do bite when their personal space is invaded, and are swift to enforce their natural laws. Sadly every season there are accidents. Still you'll see a tourist attempting to take their selfie with a seal.

I check the breeze direction and plan my cove walk accordingly, yet ocean breeze can be fickle and catch you off guard (gag). Many times, especially when the weather is hot, I just go to another seal-free beach... plenty of those within walking distance, thankfully.

I will probably do a magical realism piece inspired by the old days when only a few seals and sea lions lived here. Once I named the largest I ever saw, Neptune, when I happened upon him at the bottom of a cave I was exploring. Thankfully there was a fence between us, and he apparently felt undisturbed by my appearance. I wouldn't have liked him to test the strength of that barrier...