CALIFORNIA CHANNEL ISLAND and MARINE PROTECTED AREAS EXPANSION PROPOSED

SBCK OUR WORK ADVOCACY click for the details and how you might get involved!

The Santa Barbara Channel is protected by a network of 19 MPAs, five along the coast and 14 surrounding the Channel Islands. Each MPA was designated to set aside a particularly special area of the marine environment to create a robust network of protection covering over 350 square miles.

There is now a drive to expand these areas: KEYT NEWS SANTA BARBARA 

Excerpt:  Last year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) publicly released the first 10 year comprehensive review of the MPA Network, and how to prioritize management of the area. It included 28 adaptive management recommendations and potential changes spanning 2023 to 2033.

... the proposal could impact commercial and sport fishing off Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island and, Santa Rosa Island by expanding current restrictions.

NEUROTOXIN POISONING OF SEA LIONS ALONG CALIFORNIA COAST : MARINE MAMMAL CARE CENTERS WORKING HARD TO SAVE LIVES

LA TIMES : NEUROTIN IS POISONING LARGE NUMBERS OF SEA LIONS - CALIFORNIA COAST 

Excerpt: "The levels we're finding inside these animals is off the charts," said Giancarlo Rulli, a spokesman for the Sausalito - based Marine Mammal Center.  "It's all hands on deck."

Domoic acid is a neurotoxin released by Pseudo-nitzschia, a common phytoplankton species found in coast waters.  Sea lions - and other marine mammals - become poisoned when they eat large amounts of fish or invertebrates that have been chowing on the contaminated diatoms.

Symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, unusual behavior, seizures, loss of pregnancy, and death. 

Excerpt: Raphe Kudela, a professor of ocean science at UC Santa Cruz, said there might also be a connection to heat and runoff from inland rivers.

He said in the last few years, really wet winters have contributed to an increase in river runoff - and a resulting dump of nutrients into California's coastal waters.

"So you get a pulse of upwelling, which brought some cool water with even more nutrients to the surface, and then everything warmed up.  That's just absolutely perfect conditions for a bloom like this," he said.

It's also a perfect recipe for creatures like sardines and anchovies, who feast of the diatoms, algae and phytoplankton in these cool, nutrient-rich waters.  And those fish bring in predators, such as sea lions, dolphins, fur seals, bords and other fish that then proceed to feast on these "toxic bullets."

PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CARE CENTER : PINNIPED HOSPITAL IN LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA

PACIFIC MMC ORG : CALL IF YOU SEE A SICK SEA LION  Located in Laguna Beach, Southern California.

If you see an animal who is ill, perhaps showing signs of the recent algea bloom toxicity, do not push them back into the water or get near them. 

According to PMMC the most common Pinnipeds to Southern California are Northern elephant seals, Pacific harbor seals, and California sea lions.  Occasionally, the treat Northern fur seals.  PMMC is also the only temporary holding facilities for small whales and dolphins between Santa Barbara and San Diego.