Georgia Aquarium helps rescue marine life impacted by toxic algae bloom off California coast

Georgia Aquarium steps in to assist with marine life affected by a massive toxic algal bloom in California, providing vital care for sick and dying animals.

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN/WANF)- A wildlife emergency is unfolding off the coast of California, as a massive toxic algal bloom is causing the deaths of marine life. In response, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is stepping in to help, deploying a team of experts to assist in the rescue efforts.

Toxic algae bloom causing widespread damage

The toxic algae bloom in California’s waters has led to a rapid increase in algae, which produces a neurotoxin that accumulates in fish. Fish accumulate the toxin, which sickens marine predators such as seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales. The neurotoxin causes symptoms including seizures, confusion, and death.

Andy Madigan, Director of Pinnipeds at the Georgia Aquarium, explained the severity of the situation: “Right now, what’s going on down there is you have a bunch of animals not surviving from it, cetaceans washing up.” Rescue centers along the coast are overwhelmed with the influx of sick marine animals.

Georgia Aquarium steps in with rescue mission

In response to the crisis, the Georgia Aquarium sent a team of trainers to California to assist in caring for the affected animals. Madigan emphasized the aquarium’s commitment to conservation: “Here at the Aquarium, it’s very important to us because again, we care for animals. We’re very passionate about conservation and we want to make sure that we’re helping out where we can.”

The aquarium’s team is working to care for, feed, and stabilize the affected animals, helping them recover from the toxic exposure. “They give them antibiotics, they give them other medications, they feed them a ton of food to get them their weights back up, and then they monitor them to see when they’re healthy enough to go back into the wild,” Madigan said.

Past rescue efforts highlight Georgia Aquarium’s experience

This is not the first time the Georgia Aquarium has responded to marine life crises on the West Coast. The aquarium has helped in previous rescue efforts related to toxic algal blooms and other environmental threats to marine life.