“It’s a ‘tsunami’: More than 200 dead dolphins and sea lions have washed up on California beaches amid a crisis of toxic algal blooms – and beachgoers are reporting 60 sea creatures in distress every HOUR
- Over 200 dead dolphins and sea lions have washed up on California beaches
- Experts believe a toxic algal bloom crisis is responsible for the deaths
- Volunteers receive more than 60 alerts per hour about animals in distress
Over 200 dead dolphins and sea lions have washed up on California beaches and hundreds more are in distress. Experts believe a toxic algal bloom crisis is to blame.
Experts said toxic algal blooms on the west coast had caused serious neurological problems in wildlife – while a local described seeing vicious attacks by sea lions that looked like they were on a “bad acid trip”.
According to CNN, the seaweed has killed more than 100 sea lions and nearly 100 dolphins, and organizations receive more than 60 reports of animals in distress every hour.
“It’s as if tsunami waves continue to sweep our local beaches and more sea lions and dolphins are suffering from domoic acid,” said Ruth Dover, co-founder and executive director of the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute.
Her organization has taken hundreds of calls over the past few weeks about the animals in distress, with the sea lions showing signs of eating domoic acid.
Over 200 dead dolphins and sea lions have washed up on California beaches and hundreds more are in distress. Experts believe a toxic algal bloom crisis is to blame
Domoic acid is a neurotoxin that is carried down the food chain via fish to larger mammals, leading to mass die-offs and sometimes turning the water purple – a phenomenon known as the “red tide”.
The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) said it had received reports of sea lions biting surfers, divers and people in the sand and even attacking dogs.
CIMWI has told visitors not to pour water on the sea lions, even when it’s hot outside, as it could aggravate their “weakened condition” and even cause a seizure.
They also urged people not to touch the animals in any way, feed them, molest them, or get too close to take selfies.
CIMWI warned that all of these acts are federal offenses and are punishable by a fine of up to US$100,000 and up to one year in prison.
“Keep your distance and your dog’s distance. For your safety and the animal’s health, stay 50 feet (four car lengths) back,” said a spokesman for the institute.
A resident of the California coastal city of Ventura said she saw sea lions act like they were on a “bad acid trip,” including one biting a diver and another repeatedly throwing a paddleboarder off his board.
Justin Greenman, a stranding coordinator at NOAA Fisheries, said the “completely overwhelming” wave of dead or sick animals was “one of the largest in history” and showed no signs of slowing down.
Experts said toxic algal blooms on the west coast have caused serious neurological problems in wildlife – while a local described witnessing vicious attacks by sea lions that looked like they were on a “bad acid trip”.
The algae are believed to have killed more than 100 sea lions and nearly 100 dolphins
CIMWI has told visitors not to pour water on the sea lions, even when it’s hot outside, as it could aggravate their “weakened condition” and even cause a seizure
Justin Greenman, a stranding coordinator at NOAA Fisheries, said the “completely overwhelming” wave of dead or sick animals was “one of the largest in history” and showed no signs of slowing down
Organizations receive more than 60 alerts about animals in distress every hour
He and Dover both find that the volunteers are exhausted from trying to save these creatures.
‘[The groups] “We do get federal funding, but that’s really just a small drop in the ocean,” Greenman said.
“But we have a lot of people who put so much time and heart into it, and it’s started to take its toll.”
“Our team members are physically tired and emotionally drained,” added Dover.
“It’s really difficult to watch an animal suffering from domoic acid and we want to help every single one of them.”
A study published earlier this year found that the average annual number of observed blooms increased by 59.2 percent between 2003 and 2020 — equivalent to 2.19 percent per year.
This increasing bloom frequency was significantly correlated with sea temperature, suggesting that “blooming seasons have been lengthened in these temperate seas with warmer temperatures.”
What is an algal bloom?
An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the algal population in a body of water.
The phenomenon can occur in both freshwater and marine environments, causing the water to turn yellow, red, or light green.
Some algal blooms are caused by an excess of nutrients, which leads to the growth of algae and other green plants.
The more nutrient-rich food available, the more bacteria will multiply and consume the oxygen dissolved in the water.
When oxygen levels drop, many fish and aquatic insects cannot survive, resulting in a dead zone.
Algal blooms composed of phytoplankton that are known to naturally produce biotoxins are often referred to as harmful algal blooms, or HABs.