Mailing Address: 1536 W. 25th Street, #272 • San Pedro, CA 90732 www.marinemammalcare.org • 424.450.0570 To: City of Manhattan Beach ATTN: Britny Coker-Moen, [email protected] From: Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles Re: Mid-Year Report – Year One – July 1 – December 31, 2025 Date: February 11, 2026 We are pleased to submit the following mid-year report to the City of Manhattan Beach. Following an exceptionally busy first half of 2025 driven by a mass stranding event associated with a toxic algal bloom, activity levels during July through December returned to a pattern more consistent with historical seasonal norms. This period is typically a comparatively calmer time of year for marine mammal strandings along the Los Angeles County coastline. Between July and December, we admitted a notable number of patients diagnosed with Leptospirosis. This trend aligns with the significant stranding event linked to this bacterial infection along California’s Central Coast during the same timeframe. We also began responding to young California sea lion pups in November and a small number of yearling northern elephant seals. The most common causes of stranding during this period included malnutrition, human interaction (including gunshot trauma), and infectious disease. SUMMARY OF SERVICES PROVIDED Pursuant to the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Manhattan Beach and Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles (MMCC), and consistent with the Scope of Services outlined in Exhibit A , MMCC provided the following services during the reporting period: 1. Marine Mammal Response and Rescue MMCC maintained year-round readiness to respond to marine mammal strandings within the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area, including trained responders, maintained rescue vehicles, and specialized equipment. Response teams conducted proactive shoreline patrols to assess marine mammal health, monitor for injuries and entanglements, and evaluate stranded animals. MMCC responded to hotline reports originating from the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area, assessed marine mammal condition in the field, transported animals requiring medical care to MMCC’s rehabilitation facility. 2. Marine Mammal Reporting Hotline MMCC staffed and operated the 1-800-39-WHALE marine mammal stranding hotline daily during designated seasonal hours, providing Manhattan Beach residents and visitors with a direct reporting mechanism for distressed, injured, or stranded marine mammals. Hotline staff triaged calls, provided guidance to the public, and dispatched field response teams when appropriate.
Mailing Address: 1536 W. 25th Street, #272 • San Pedro, CA 90732 www.marinemammalcare.org • 424.450.0570
3. Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Animals rescued from the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area were admitted to MMCC’s veterinary hospital and rehabilitation facility, where they received comprehensive medical evaluation, diagnostics, treatment, nutritional support, and ongoing care. MMCC maintained full hospital operations, life support systems, veterinary oversight, trained animal care staff, and volunteer support throughout the reporting period. Rehabilitated animals were released back to the ocean once medically cleared. 4. Public Engagement and Education MMCC provided public education and outreach to Manhattan Beach residents and visitors regarding appropriate conduct around marine wildlife. This included guidance on maintaining safe viewing distances, reporting procedures, and actions that protect both marine mammals and public safety. 5. Federal Permitting and Reporting Compliance Throughout the reporting period, MMCC maintained an active Marine Mammal Stranding Agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and complied with all applicable federal regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. MMCC collected, documented, and reported required stranding data, ensuring full regulatory compliance for activities conducted within the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area. 6. City Reporting and Coordination MMCC maintained communication with City representatives and Animal Control regarding marine mammal health concerns and stranding trends. This following address the required summary data consistent with Exhibit A reporting requirements . A. Number of reports to the Marine Mammal Care Center Hotline: There were 1009 total calls to our hotline during this timeframe. We estimate that 151, or 15%, of the calls are attributed to the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area.* B. Number of responses (teams dispatched to the field): There were 212 total responses during this timeframe. 31 responses are attributed to the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area. C. Number of animals admitted and treated: There were a total of 63 animals rescued during this period: 41 Pinnipeds and 22 cetaceans/marine birds. 6 Pinnipeds (15% of total) and 3 marine birds (which are brought to our partners at IBR) are attributed to the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area. D. Hours of response team proactive patrol and monitoring:
Mailing Address: 1536 W. 25th Street, #272 • San Pedro, CA 90732 www.marinemammalcare.org • 424.450.0570 There were 234 hours of proactive patrol and monitoring during this timeframe. 35 hours are attributed to the Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area. E. Public education and engagement reach: MMCC staff maintained an active presence in the community through participation in several Manhattan Beach City Council meetings and by hosting an outreach booth at the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair, which welcomed approximately 80,000 attendees. Through these in-person engagement efforts, MMCC staff and volunteers provided vital information about marine mammals, ocean conservation, and procedures for reporting stranded animals through the MMCC hotline. In addition, MMCC welcomed an estimated 160 visitors from Manhattan Beach to the Center, demonstrating the effectiveness of these community engagement efforts and continued support/interest of the MMCC mission among Manhattan Beach residents. F. Manhattan Beach residents’ hours of volunteer service: 441 hours of volunteer service were contributed by Manhattan Beach residents during this timeframe. Volunteers contributed to animal care and public education and engagement activities. Data Parameters and Limitations: Marine mammal response data is tracked in real time through MMCC’s Rescue Hotline and coordinated field dispatch system. While we make every effort to attribute incidents to the appropriate jurisdiction, precise city-specific reporting along sandy beach boundaries presents inherent limitations. Beach demarcations between the City of Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, and Hermosa Beach are not visibly marked on the sand, and initial public reports often reference general landmarks rather than exact municipal boundaries. In order to ensure accuracy and avoid under- or over-representation of response activity, MMCC aggregates data within the contiguous “Tri-City” or Manhattan Beach Coastal Response Area (El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach) when precise boundary attribution is unclear. This methodology reflects the operational reality of marine mammal strandings, which are driven by oceanographic conditions rather than jurisdictional lines, and ensures the most reliable representation of response volume and impact within the City’s coastal region. Where confirmed location data is available, it is attributed accordingly. All data reflects best available information at the time of reporting. *We do not collect reporting party personal information. The number of calls/reports to our hotline from specific geographic locations is estimated using a formula of Total Calls X % of total area rescues.