Natural toxin killing Calif. dolphins, sea lions LOS ANGELES
(AP) Dolphins and sea lions that have died along the Southern
California coast in recent weeks may be victims of a deadly
neurotoxin produced by a seasonal algae bloom, experts said
Tuesday. The same poison was found in samples from millions of
fish that suffocated in a Redondo Beach harbor last month, and
researchers hope to determine if it is present in samples from a
similar but s maller fish die-off Monday in Ventura Harbor.
Experts don’t believe the fish died from the toxin but some
marine mammals have become its victims. In the past few days,
three sea lions and three dolphins that beached themselves in
Orange County died or were destroyed because they had incurable
domoic acid poisoning, said Kirsten Sedlick, animal care
supervisor for the Pacific Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. On
Tuesday, the center dispatched crews to rescue another four
dolphins and a sea lion, she said. Tests will determine whether
they also were victims of the neurotoxin