A catastrophic bloom of toxic algae is wreaking havoc along Southern California’s coastline, leaving thousands of marine creatures—including sea lions, dolphins, whales, and seabirds—sick or dead.
Scientists have traced the disaster to domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin produced by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia, which is accumulating dangerously through the marine food web.
⚠️ A Catastrophic Ecological Collapse
Experts are calling this outbreak one of the most severe in California’s history. Since late March, marine rescue centers have been overwhelmed with over 100 calls daily, reporting sick or stranded animals from San Diego to Santa Barbara.
Disturbing symptoms—seizures, disorientation, and the eerie “sky-gazing” behavior—signal widespread domoic acid poisoning.
🐋 Even the Giants Aren’t Spared
The devastation extends to larger marine life. Necropsies have confirmed that at least two whales—a humpback and a minke—have died from toxic poisoning.
Alarmingly, the endangered Guadalupe fur seal has also been affected, highlighting the far-reaching and devastating impact of this crisis on vulnerable species.
🆘 A Heartbreaking Discovery on the Shores
On April 24, 2025, Malibu resident and marine advocate Krista Weissmuller encountered a gut-wrenching scene during her morning run: a lifeless dolphin washed up on Zuma Beach.
“My heart raced. I stood there, frozen in disbelief,” she recalled. “I immediately called a wildlife rescue center to report the tragedy and arrange for the dolphin’s recovery.”
Weissmuller, who has lived in Malibu for 15 years, said:
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. This year is by far the worst. Watching so many marine animals wash ashore, sick or dead, is devastating beyond words.”
📢 An Urgent Call for Action
This deadly outbreak is a wake-up call about the fragility of our oceans in the face of climate change and human activities.
Without swift, decisive action—tighter environmental controls, robust monitoring, and heightened public awareness—the marine ecosystems we depend on will continue to spiral into collapse.