Thursday May 8, 2025
LAist —
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion Tuesday to help address a growing crisis of toxic algae sickening and killing sea life.
Over the last three months, hundreds of pelicans, sea lions, dolphins — and even some whales — have been sickened or killed by domoic acid poisoning, a toxin that occurs naturally in certain types of algae.
Experts say it’s likely Southern California’s worst toxic algae outbreak ever. Not only is the outbreak devastating for the ecosystem, but it can make animals more aggressive, prompting public safety concerns. The crisis has gotten so bad, rescuers are struggling to keep up with the numbers of sick sea animals.
“Year after year after year, having this type of stranding event is a real strain on resources,” said Dave Bader, a marine biologist with the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro.