Dead dolphins, sea lions found on Oxnard beach; natural neurotoxin blamed


"We were having a really good time. We were with our dog, the sun was setting and the weather was beautiful, and then we came up to the first dead dolphin," she said. "And then we found another one, and we looked up and we realized the beach was kind of scattered with dead dolphins."


"They were all different sizes. Two of the dolphins were smaller and appeared to be younger," Camara said. "We didn't understand what was going on, and we felt very sad for the dolphins."

According to Tom McCormick, a marine biologist who has worked in biological assessment along the Ventura County coast for more than 20 years, the deaths probably are linked to a natural neurotoxin called domoic acid.

"People are quick to point the finger at the power plant, but quite frankly the operators don't add anything to the water they use except a little heat," McCormick said.

"At this time of year, you often get the red tides, and associated with that are plankton species that produce domoic acid," he said. "This is a neurotoxin that is picked by the filter feeders in the water. The smaller fishes, such as anchovies and sardines, eat the filter feeders, and the toxins get concentrated in the animals that eat the smaller fishes. Sometimes, you will see a sea lion on the beach jerking and contorting due to this toxin — it's really heart-wrenching."

Ron Barrett, a field assessment volunteer who has been working with the institute for 16 years, confirmed the animals died of natural causes not related to the plant or to fishing.

"Basically, every year, we have a season where domoic acid presents itself," he said. "Some seasons are worse than others. This year has been fairly light in Ventura County."

The decomposing carcasses attracted a vast aerial crowd of seagulls, buzzards and vultures.

"The bodies were covered with seagulls," Camara said.

"It was pretty gross."