Toxic Algae Bloom Sickens Wildlife At PMMC In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A toxic algae bloom that has spread down the California Coast from San Luis Obispo County has been harming more than 1,000 sea lions and dolphins, and staff at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach are hard at work to keep up, the Orange County Register reported.

The massive bloom was produced by a species of marine plankton fueled with a toxin called domoic acid. It has been spreading across the waters of the California Coast, as well as sickening and killing the more than 1,000 sea lions and dolphins that have eaten the infected plankton, according to previous reports.

According to the OC Register, the toxins — when eaten — can cause seizures and brain inflammation that often leads to death.

At the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, staff are mostly treating females who have just given birth and are lactating, the OC Register reported. According to the newspaper, impacted wildlife has been found on every beach in the county except for San Clemente.

“If we can get the girls out of their intoxicated state, we might release them earlier in hopes that they can find their pups again,” Dr. Alissa Deming told the OC Register. “Sea lions are very good mothers and sometimes take another pup and raise it. We’d like them to have a chance to get back out to the islands again.”

To learn more about the toxic algae bloom sickening the marine wildlife on the California Coast, read the full report on the Orange County Register.