The phones kept ringing, one after another, as reports poured in about distressed sea lions exhibiting unusual behavior: swaying their heads, foaming at the mouth, or lying lifeless on the beach. Rescuers along the central California coast were overwhelmed as they tried to capture these sick animals in the hopes of saving them. Sadly, hundreds of sea lions and several dolphins had already succumbed to this dire situation.
These marine mammals, known as “sentinel” species due to their ability to reflect the health of the ocean, appear to be falling ill due to a harmful algae bloom exacerbated by human activity. Pseudo-nitzschia, the algae responsible, produces a neurotoxin called domoic acid. This toxin accumulates in the food chain, affecting anchovies, sea lions, and dolphins, causing a range of symptoms including lethargy, disorientation, vomiting, bulging eyes, muscle spasms, seizures, and, in severe cases, death. Affected animals can be found along the shoreline spanning from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo County.
Rescuers describe this mass poisoning event as one of the worst they’ve ever witnessed, and unfortunately, it’s only June. Michelle Berman Kowalewski, a biologist and director of the Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit, a nonprofit organization responding to beached dolphins, expressed her sadness at this situation. While algal blooms are not uncommon, Berman Kowalewski noted that in a typical bad year, she would respond to around 30 to 40 poisoned dolphins. However, this year, the number has skyrocketed to an average of 10 animals per day for a total of 10 days.
Simultaneously, more than 1,000 concerned beachgoers have reported dead and sick marine mammals to the Channel Island Marine and Wildlife Institute. This conservation nonprofit rescues and rehabilitates marine animals, and its volunteers have been diligently responding to these distressing calls, capturing the affected animals in nets for transportation to the institute’s treatment center.
Ruth Dover, the managing director of the wildlife institute, acknowledged the challenging pace they are facing, urging people to continue reporting sick and injured marine mammals. While test results are awaited to confirm the cause of illness, high concentrations of domoic acid combined with the animals’ symptoms suggest that the toxin is to blame. While algal blooms occur naturally, human activities that disrupt ecosystems likely contribute to their more frequent occurrence and heightened intensity. Pollution and climate change are among the factors influencing the prevalence of algal blooms, according to the NOAA.
This incident echoes a similar episode in August, which led to numerous stranded sea lions, while previous occurrences in 2015 and 2007 also claimed many sea mammals’ lives.
Importantly, domoic acid does not affect humans unless consumed through contaminated seafood such as mussels or crabs. The California Department of Public Health closely monitors fisheries for toxins, occasionally implementing closures as a precautionary measure. Recently, the department issued a warning against consuming mussels, clams, or scallops harvested recreationally from Santa Barbara County after dangerous levels of domoic acid were detected. A quarantine on mussels from the entire California coast is currently in effect.
Despite feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, Ms. Berman Kowalewski, the dolphin biologist, remains committed to responding to the distressing calls and conducting further research on dolphins. She hopes that with time, the algal bloom will dissipate, emphasizing the importance of acquiring as much knowledge as possible during such events.
In conclusion, the situation along the central California coast, with hundreds of sick sea lions and dolphins, showcases the devastating impact of harmful algal blooms. The work of rescuers, conservation groups, and researchers is crucial in understanding and mitigating these events, while raising awareness about the human activities that contribute to their occurrence.
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