Beached by poison

Suzie Harrison

The recent discoveries of dead and sick sea lions along the coast has

marine biologists worried.

However, it is not unusual for sea lions to wash up on Orange County

beaches, said Newport Beach Fire Capt. Eric Bauer.

“This is not uncommon at all,” he said. “We do see them from time to

time.”

Over the last few weeks, though, the Marine Mammal Center in Laguna

Beach has been deluged with critically ill sea lions and dolphins, said

Bonnie Starr with Friends of the Sea Lion. Volunteers have been working

around the clock to save them, the center’s administrator said.

A toxic algae bloom containing harmful, often lethal biotoxins that

attack the creatures’ central nervous system has led to the massive surge

of patients, Starr said.

“From the nervous system, it goes to the brain,” she said. Death or

recovery depends on how much of the algae the sea lion has eaten, Starr

said.With this poisonous algae however, there is a 95% mortality rate,

explained Richard Evans, pathologist and the center’s medical director.

“The brain damage by and large is irreversible,” he said.

Biologists say most of the afflicted sea lions are females because it

is near birthing season, and they are eating more because they are

pregnant. High levels of the toxin have been found in fish such as

anchovies and sardines -- the sea lions’ diet.

Usually, when a sea lion is brought into the Laguna Beach shelter, a

volunteer immediately administers an intravenous fluid, electrolytes and

vitamin B. They are also given Valiumbecause it is an inexpensive

sedative and calms down the animals, Evans said.

Depending on their progress, the sea lions are gradually fed fish. But

if there is no improvement in their condition after 72 hours, they are

euthanized.

“At that point, it would have suffered permanent brain damage with no

chance of recovery,” Starr said. “It’s the most humane thing to do.”

The recent epidemic started in Northern California and made its way to

Southern California in early March. By March 17, both dolphins and sea

lions were getting sick and were brought into the Laguna Beach shelter.

In the past two weeks, about 25 were brought in.

The last outbreak that hit the sea lions was in 1998 and 1999, and it

was mostly contained in the northern part of the state, Evans said.

Scientists have not yet determined what triggers these attacks.

As of Tuesday, there were 50 marine mammals at the center.

“This is the worst we’ve seen at the center,” Starr said, “and we have

been here for over 30 years.”

* Suzie Harrison is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.

She may be reached at (949) 494-4321.

FYI

Friends of the Sea Lion is in desperate need of money, supplies and

volunteers. The center is at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

Information: (949) 494-3050 or online at o7 www.fslmmc.orgf7 .