(Jan 14, 2025)
The Marine Mammal Care Center’s mission is ocean conservation through education, marine mammal rehabilitation and research. It was established in 1987 with the closing of Marineland. The facility opened in 1992 and is now a 501(c)(3) organization. The MMCC rescues and rehabilitates over 350 sick and injured marine mammals annually from Malibu to Long Beach, to return them to the wild. It is one of 6 partners in the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network between the Channel Islands and San Diego. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provide permits for this under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act.
 
Reasons for rescue include entanglement in fishing gear, malnourishment due to fluctuating marine environmental conditions, shark bites, disease (such as domoic acid poisoning from toxic algae), and human interactions including boat strikes and abuse. Current environmental effects include climate change, overfishing, and marine debris such as plastics. Marine mammal patients are processed by looking for their clinical signs and symptoms, identifying the species, diagnosing the condition and devising treatment options. Videos showed trained personnel safely capturing and treating these animals. (Don’t try this yourself!)
 
The MMCC is located in San Pedro near the Port of Los Angeles, on Los Angeles Unified School District property (Angel’s Gate Continuation High School), west of the south end of Gaffey St. It has educational exhibits, knowledgeable volunteer docents, and marine mammal patient viewing, with no charge for admission. Walk-in visits are limited, so reserve visits online at https://marinemammalcare.org/.
 
Never approach a marine mammal on the shore. Give seals and sea lions at least 50 feet of distance to avoid disturbing resting animals. Keep pets away and on a leash. To report a live marine mammal in need, do not approach it; call the Marine Mammal Care Center’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE. (To report birds, sea turtles or dead marine mammals, see https://marinemammalcare.org/report-an-animal/ for details.)