LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Pupping season is officially over, thus the rope barrier must come down at the Children's Pool in La Jolla.

"It's a shame now to not have any deterrent for our general public to keep the ignorant people who come here and are not understanding of the shyness of the seals from approaching the seals too closely and scaring them into the water," said pro-seal activist James Hudnall.

For years, the rookery at the pool has been a hot topic.

There are those who feel the area should be free for public use, and there are others, like Hudnall, who feel differently.

"This is such a unique natural treasure for the people of San Diego and, in fact, the people of the world to be able to see a Harbor Seal rookery to see wild seals doing what they do. Earlier in the year to see the seals born and nursing, and all of the other things that harbor seals do," said Hudnall.

10News spoke with the director of park and recreation, who is in charge of putting up and taking down the rope. She said they are simply following a court order to only keep the rope up during pupping season.

Hudnall insists it should be year-round.

"The rope needs to be here year-round for those few people who insist on suing this beach in spite of the rookery. They cross the rope anyway, why not leave the rope up for the rest of the public that doesn't know about the seals?" Hudnall said.

Hudnall added that seal activists will continue to stay close by the seals.

"There are pro-seal activists here almost all the time advising the public, especially those that are coming here for the first time and don't know how far away they should stay from the seals," said Hudnall.