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Board approves county support and regional convening to aid marine mammal response amid domoic‑acid strandings
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Summary
Facing an ongoing domoic‑acid event that has caused hundreds of marine mammal strandings, the Board approved a motion directing Beaches and Harbors to convene regional partners, and agreed countywide support for local rescue operations and public education.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, co‑authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, asking county staff to support the Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC) and lead a regional response to an ongoing multi‑toxin marine‑life stranding event.
Supervisors were briefed that the county is experiencing sustained strandings of sea lions, dolphins and other marine life linked to domoic acid and saxitoxin algae blooms. The MMCC reported more than 410 marine mammals in care since the start of the year; the center's annual budget had been built to handle roughly 300 admits in a full year, and the current event is far more severe.
The board amendment requires the director of the Department of Beaches and Harbors, in coordination with the CEO, to convene all relevant coastal cities, county offices, state and federal agencies and other stakeholders within 60 days, to create a shared understanding, identify resources and funding strategies and to meet at least quarterly. Supervisors discussed an original county share calculation: the MMCC's funding request was described as $750,000 and Beaches and Harbors staff said county‑operated beaches account for roughly 60% of impacted coastline — a county share equivalent to $450,000 was discussed in the public debate.
Speakers at the boardroom and more than 70 callers urged the board to provide funding and to step up public‑education and beach signage to keep people and animals safe. Department staff said they are coordinating with cities and that lifeguards and Beaches and Harbors staff were being stretched by repeated rescues and required mental‑health support.
The motion passed 5-0. It does not itself deliver the full funding package discussed in public testimony but directs Beaches and Harbors to lead a regional convening and for the CEO's office to coordinate county support and intergovernmental collaboration.
