Disclaimer: These postings were sent to us from a variety of media sources over the Internet. The content has not been reviewed for scientific accuracy or edited in any manner.

July 13, 2000

Photo and article by Joseph Cempa
Five Cities Gazette

More than 90 dead and dying sea lions have been discovered on Central Coast beaches since June 23. Most of them have been found in the Ocean and Pismo Beach area.

Scientists believe the animals are suffereing from domoic acid poisoning that stems from toxic algae blooms in the ocean. Domoic acid accumulates in mussels, anchovies, mackerel and other sea life that is then consumed by the sea lions and other wildlife.

The toxin can be harmful to humans, but so far there have been no reports of human poisonings locally. On the east coast of Canada in 1987 three people died and 104 others became sick from domoic acid poisoning after eating contaminated mussels.

In 1998 a toxic algae bloom in waters along the California coast caused at least 400 mammal deaths, including the demise of 70 sea lions.

Erin Brody, strandings coordinator for the California Marine Mammal Center said that although laboratory tests are not yet complete, everything points to another case of the highly toxic algae blooms.

"We haven't 100-percent confirmed it yet but it's extremely similar to the outbreak in 1998 of domoic acid poisonings. We are treating like it is, but haven't received conformation yet," she said.

The animals affected in the latest outbreak are showing up on beaches writhing in agony, head bobbing, frothing at the mouth, with fluid draining from their eyes. If untreated the sea lions become lethargic then die.

Rescue efforts are being made by the California Marine Mammal Center, based in Sausalito. Sixty sick sea lions have been trucked to the the Bay Area to be nursed back to health. Many are not expected to live. The survivors will be released into the waters of northern California.

Although toxic algae blooms are considered a natural phenomena, scientists believe they may be set off because of human intervention.

According to a study published in February by scientists at San Francisco State University, harmful algae blooms may be fueled by urea, an organic nitrogen compound found in urine and in urban and farm field runoff.

"Sewage does cause toxic plankton bloom, and any sewage spills are bound to adversely alter the ecology of the area, said William Cochlan, Senior Research Scientist at San Francisco State University's Environmental Studies Department. "Domoic acid poisoning could definitely be caused by sewage, and that's where the link, (in sea lions) could come from. Human influences can definitely promote phytoplankton bloom. It's been seen around the world. Urea is an organic form of nitrogen and it's also found in fertilizer. Sewage will change the ratio of ambient nutrient concentrations and that will cause domoic acid."

Cochlan said he feels more should be done to make sure that sewage plants do not contribute to toxic algae blooms.

"Most of the sewage facilities in this country do not even test their effluent for what can cause this imbalance in the natural makeup of the marine food chain," Cochlan said. "Coastal sewage plants that dump into the Pacific should be testing for total nitrogen, and organic nitrogen counts, that's what can cause all this to start."

Both the South County Sanitation Plant in Oceano, and the Pismo Beach sewage treatment plant release their treated effluent in the ocean three-quarters of a mile off of the Oceano Dunes State Park. More than 35 of the poisoned sea lions have been recovered within a few miles of the outfall.

Last month Pismo Beach was was fined $27,000 by state regulators for various sewage system plant violations.

Dr. Chris Scholin, staff scientist at Monteray Bay Aquarium Research Institute, also said that the sewage and urban runoff connection should be considered a suspect in the toxic algae blooms. "A connection with sewage is absolutely worth looking into in this case," he said. "Sewage is not the only thing that can cause this toxin to produce, but it's definitely one of them, and we really should look into this connection much more closely."

Scholin said that he wasn't sure if any danger to humans from eating fish caught off the local coast. "We're pretty confident that domoic acid settle in the gut of the fish," he said. "If that's the case, someone would have to eat the entire fish, intestines and all, but we're not 100-percent sure. The bottom line is that we should look into the connection much more closely."

Joe Codero, Wildlife Biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service, said he considers the high number of recent sea lion sicknesses and deaths "very unusual," for the area because there are no there are no "main concentration grounds for these creatures in the area where they are finding them."

He also believes the sewage outfall connection should be examined.

"I've spoken with and read studies from quite a few scientists that have said that sewage (released into the ocean,) definitely causes these outbreaks," Codero said.

Kathryn Zagzebrski, manager of the Stranding's Department at the Marine Mammal Center coordinates the volunteer program in San Luis Obispo County. Over 60 people from all walks of life are the first contact the unfortunate animals have with humans, first stabilizing the animals with medications and fluids, then carefully transporting them to the Center's hospital where they are admitted for a full medical exam and ongoing veterinary treatment. If they eventually regain their strength they are released back into their native habitat.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the sea lion rescue operation can call the Center at 415-289-7325.