A sea lion pokes his head out of the water as he swims past the Indianloa Pier on Friday, March 10, 2023. Standalone Indianola Pier Sealion
Los Angeles, California – Three months after the devastating Palisades Fire scorched beachfront homes in Malibu, environmental experts are raising alarms about a new crisis: hazardous runoff spilling into the Pacific Ocean and wreaking havoc on Southern California’s marine ecosystem.
Despite the blaze being long extinguished, large amounts of debris — including ashes, charred materials, and heavy metals — remain scattered along the shoreline. Tracy Quinn, CEO of the environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay, said recent tests of ocean water off Santa Monica revealed alarming contamination levels.
“That debris is still sitting there within the high tide line,” Quinn said. “So every day the ocean is washing up and lapping those contaminants into the sea.”
The consequences have been swift and severe. Marine animal rescue groups have reported a sharp increase in sick and disoriented animals washing ashore. At the Marine Mammal Care Center, the number of animals needing treatment has quadrupled, forcing the facility to construct makeshift enclosures in its parking lot.
John Warner, CEO of the center, said many of the animals are suffering from neurological issues after ingesting fish contaminated by domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin produced by algae blooms.
“They’re having seizures. They’re completely disoriented,” Warner explained. “It’s a neurological toxin that’s affecting their brains.”
Though domoic acid–producing algae, sometimes called “red tide,” is not new to the region, biologists believe the intensity of this bloom is linked to the wildfires. High winds that fueled the flames also churned up ocean sediment, while the fire’s nutrient-rich runoff is feeding the toxic algae.
“Whether it be a fire or just organic waste flowing into the ocean, those all contribute to the size, scale, and intensity of these blooms,” Warner said. “Toxicity levels in the algae are at a high, high level during this particular bloom.”
The long-term risks may extend well beyond marine life. Quinn warned that heavy metals consumed by small fish can accumulate up the food chain, eventually reaching humans through locally caught seafood.
“This isn’t just about wildlife,” Quinn said. “It’s about protecting the health of everyone who depends on a clean, safe ocean — including us.”
Environmental groups are now calling for immediate cleanup efforts and stronger safeguards to prevent fire-related runoff from turning future wildfires into oceanic disasters.
