As part of Georgia Aquarium’s mission to rescue and rehabilitate marine life, we have been able to assist in the treatment of stranded sea lion pups along the coast of California. These sea lions are part of California’s unusual mortality event (UME), due to the deadly toxin, domoic acid. Domoic acid is produced during certain harmful algal bloom events by a type of algae called Pseudo-nitzschia australis. This neurotoxin accumulates in small fish, like sardines and anchovies, which are then eaten by marine mammals like sea lions in large quantities.

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