Domoic Acid Poisoning: Southern California Marine Mammals Dying from Toxic Algae Bloom

Toxic Algae Bloom Impacting Marine Life

• ⚠️ Experts are urging the public to stay at least 50 feet away from stranded or sick marine mammals due to a worsening domoic acid poisoning.
• 🌊 The toxic algae bloom, prevalent from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, contains a neurotoxin that is ingested by fish, affecting the entire food chain.

Marine Mammal Strandings and Deaths

• 💔 Thousands of sick and dead marine animals, including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales, are washing ashore.
• 🐋 A young humpback whale found in Ventura showed signs of blunt force trauma, with samples taken to test for domoic acid.
• 🐬 While sea lions and birds can sometimes be saved, the condition is almost always fatal for dolphins, as they are often too ill by the time they are found.

Rescue and Rehabilitation Efforts

• 🏥 Organizations like the Marine Mammal Care Center are working to rescue and rehabilitate affected animals, primarily seals and sea lions.
• 🔬 The Ocean Animal Rescue and Research Alliance will be conducting necropsies on animals found along Los Angeles County beaches.
• 📊 As of yesterday, 223 animals have died in LA County alone due to the algae bloom.

Public Assistance and Reporting

• 📞 If you spot a stranded marine mammal, keep your distance and report it to organizations like the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network (866-767-6114), NOAA, or the Marine Mammal Care Center (803-994-253).
• 📈 This is the fourth year this toxic algae bloom has occurred, and experts state it is the worst yet.