The Marine Mammal Care Center, which has been struggling for nearly four months to keep pace with a toxic algae bloom that sickened and killed animals all along the California coast, celebrated the release of four sea lion pups back to the ocean Wednesday while also marking the end of the algae bloom.

Care Center officials said recent testing of ocean water showed no more signs of the domoic acid algae bloom that devastated marine life for 14 weeks.

“We had this toxic algae bloom that lasted 14 weeks, the longest ever on record — the one before that was in (2023) at 8 1/2 weeks,” Marine Mammal Care Center CEO John Warner told CBS2 during a morning event to release the four sea lion pups. “The length of time, the toxicity of the algae, the multi-toxin algae event and just the mortality rate of this year’s event was by far the worst we’ve seen ever in Southern California.”

The four pups released by MMCC near the Venice Pier on Wednesday morning did not suffer from the toxic algae, but two were malnourished and two others had shark bites. But they were treated by the center at a time when it was overwhelmed with marine life sickened by the bloom. Hundreds of animals such as sea lions, pelicans, whales and dolphins fell prey to the illness, known as domoic acid toxicosis.

“Watching elephant seal pups return to the ocean today was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we show up for each other — across species, agencies, and communities. We were especially happy to see Sprinkles and Brownie, and all of the pups, go back home where they belong,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement. “The Marine Mammal Care Center has done extraordinary work under incredibly challenging conditions, and LA County will continue to show up for them — and for the wildlife and coastline we all share.”

Authorities said consumption of the toxin can cause seizures, aggressive behavior, lethargy, dehydration, vomiting and even death in a variety of marine mammals, dolphins and seabirds. Multiple incidents were recorded in recent months of animals such as sea lions acting particularly aggressive toward beachgoers. Other animals were seen lying listlessly on beaches.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion brought by Horvath to provide $100,000 to the Marine Mammal Care Center to support its response to the bloom.

The motion noted that the organization had cared for at least 410 marine mammals so far in 2025 as of early May, but its annual budget only accommodates 300 animals.

Authorities said center staff wound up treating more than 500 animals during the first several months of the year, while fielding thousands of calls on its hotline about sick animals.

‘This motion delivers critical support to the frontline responders rescuing and caring for these animals, while also helping us prepare for a future where these events will be more frequent and more severe due to climate change,” Horvath said in a statement when the funding motion was approved last month. “We must act urgently and continue to invest in solutions to protect both public health and our coastal ecosystem.”

In an telephone interview with City News Service, Warner noted the naturally occurring bloom is exacerbated by human impacts such as climate change. January’s wildfires also contributed to this year’s bloom, he added.

“The fire retardant, we were told, is basically fertilizer that would feed the algae, similar to the way it would feed your lawn,” Warner told CNS. “Algae is a type of plant, and a fertilizer material, nitrate, a rich organic material is food for plant life, including algae.”

He also highlighted a “preparedness campaign” — a plan made in partnership with the county to support the MMCC’s work.

“The bloom is now in the rear view mirror. But we have to be prepared for these blooms to keep coming,” said Warner, noting that the blooms could happen again in the same calendar year.

“We need to make sure that we are prepared — that we have the capacity to respond in a timely manner and in a thorough manner, not only because the animals deserve it … but for public safety and the public health of visitors to the beach,” he added.

Warner encouraged visitors and residents to stay away from animals who may be experiencing symptoms as a result of the toxin. He noted that some people will get close to those animals for pictures, and others might try to help.

According to Warner, animals experiencing seizures should not be placed in the water because it could result in them drowning. Warner said it’s best to contact the MMCC hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE, or find a lifeguard who will know what to do.

“The message is, ‘We love our wildlife, but we don’t want to love them to death,’” Warner said.