Toxic ocean algae swamping sections of California’s coastline has sickened hundreds of birds, sea lions and dolphins, in late April. The animals are being sickened by domoic acid, a naturally-occurring microscopic algae. Birds and sea mammals ingest the toxin by consuming fish and shellfish which consume the algae.Although algae blooms appear every year, environmentalists say this year’s crop is unusually thick and appears to be carrying higher concentrations of the acid, making it deadlier than normal. Animal protection agencies have reported a sharp increase in fatalities and illnesses amongst wildlife because of the thick blooms of algae that have appeared in the state’s coastal waters.

The International Bird Rescue Research Centre in San Pedro compared the environmental impact of the algae to an oil spill, saying several species of animals had been affected.

“I have been doing this work for 35 years and I have never seen anything like this as far as the number of species affected, other than an oil spill,’’ IBRRC director Jay Holcomb said.

“We have very serious concerns about what is happening to seabirds, and how it may affect populations.’’

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