Helping hands: lending expertise to marine mammal rehabilitation in California
This spring, a toxic algal bloom has sickened hundreds of California sea lions, elephant seals and other marine animals along the Southern California coast. The team at the nonprofit Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) in Los Angeles has been hard at work, rescuing and rehabilitating animals who have become too sick to survive on their own. And they recently called on our own Senior Veterinary Technician Lindy McMorran to assist in their life-saving efforts.
Senior Veterinary Technician Lindy McMorran on the beach after releasing a rehabilitated California sea lion back to the ocean.
Demoic acid—even the name sounds like a villain
The cause of all the illness? Demoic acid, a neurotoxin that’s produced by a harmful algae called Pseudo-nitzschia. In the right conditions, the algae can multiply quickly, causing a bloom and excess toxins that fish ingest, eventually accumulating enough to sicken the marine mammals who eat them. Without human intervention, demoic acid poisoning in marine mammals can result in seizures, unusual behaviors and, ultimately, death.
Such blooms have become relatively common and they’re on the increase—this is the fourth year in a row that the experts at the MMCC have needed to respond to poisoned animals on Southern California shorelines. Adding to the concern, this year’s bloom started earlier than the previous ones; the MMCC has already had more patients (meaning marine mammals) come through their hospital in 2025 than in all of 2024. Scientists suspect that climate change and warming seas are the root cause of the increase in the harmful blooms.
California sea lion patients in care at the MMCC.
The MMCC (and Lindy!) to the rescue
The best hope for animals with demoic acid poisoning is to flush the toxin from their systems. But first the animals must be rescued from the beach and brought to an authorized rehabilitation facility, such as the MMCC’s hospital.
“Animals might stay for as little as a few weeks to multiple months,” says Lindy. Recovery time depends on a number of factors, including the animal’s species, weight, age, severity of symptoms and more. “If they’re older or have higher exposure to demoic acid, it’s tougher on them,” Lindy adds.
An ideal skill set to help during the crisis
Lindy is uniquely qualified to assist in these efforts. As a veterinary technician, she’s been trained to work with a variety of animals but she’s concentrated her work on marine animals in particular. Before joining us at the Aquarium, she did a sea turtle rehabilitation internship in Florida and helped with marine mammal rehabilitation in Northern California. She also volunteered with SR3, a local organization focused on marine animal rescue and rehabilitation. And, impressively, she was the second person in the continental U.S. to earn a new credential, Certified Aquatic Veterinary Technician, from the World Aquarium Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA), in 2023. (Check out our web story to learn more!)
Lindy at the Seattle Aquarium’s sea otter habitat.
A day in the Lindy life
“There was no day that was the same,” says Lindy, speaking about her week with the MMCC. “I assisted with exit exams and medical procedures, processed lab samples, did a lot of cleaning—whatever was needed, I was happy to help. It allowed the team to catch their breath a bit and that was wonderful to see.”
“By the time I arrived on May 12, they were already admitting fewer patients than in the previous few weeks and were working on releasing patients who had been rehabilitated,” she continues. “What was impactful was seeing the shift. On my first day, we had over 80 patients; by the last day, it was more like 50.”
“We typically see about 300 patients per year, and that’s what we budget for. By April we had already over 400 patients. MMCC’s capacity is stretched when these mass strandings occur, and without the support of our network of partners we would struggle to care for our patients. Organizations like the Seattle Aquarium stepped up for us in a time of need and we are so grateful for their help.”
Releasing recovered animals—the very best part
Lindy was also able to assist with releases, one of the most rewarding aspects of her time with the MMCC. Animals who have received a clean bill of health are brought to a beach in crates and, after a team member opens the door, what happens next is up to the individual. “Each animal has their own exit,” comments Lindy. “Some stay, some bolt to the water, some exit and then need to take a nap on the beach,” she laughs. “It’s a great reminder that they’re all unique animals.”
“Due to the hard work and dedication of MMCC’s staff and volunteers, we were able to release about 25 animals while I was there,” she concludes. “I was grateful for the opportunity to provide a little help during a challenging time.”
Lindy McMorran assists with the release of a California sea lion. Herding boards are used to help direct animals toward the water, protecting the animals and any nearby people.
A cautionary tale
“Algal blooms happen all the time,” says Lindy, “And the kind of thing that’s taking place in Southern California could also happen in the Pacific Northwest.” As we noted at the top of this story, climate change and warming ocean waters are thought to be behind the increase in harmful algal blooms.
The good news is that each of us can make a difference for ocean health. A few ideas: Contact your legislators to urge support for legislation that protects the ocean and its inhabitants. Use public transportation, fly less and limit your use of single-use plastics. Looking for other ideas? Check out our act for the ocean webpage or ask one of our friendly interpreters on your next visit to the Aquarium!
