October 14, 2026 — Domoic acid was likely the culprit behind an unusually high number of sea lion strandings on the Monterey Bay coast over the summer. The neurotoxin can affect marine mammals, birds and even humans, but outbreaks are difficult to predict. Now, researchers from UC Santa Cruz have pioneered a new detection method that could give weeks of notice before domoic acid becomes dangerous to humans. The research team’s study on the method was published Sept. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“This method gives us a much bigger window of time,” said Raphael Kudela, a distinguished professor at UCSC and senior author of the study. “We could tell you six weeks in advance, potentially … A much more early warning than you get using our other methods.”
Domoic acid is a toxin produced by Pseudo-nitzschia, a species of algae. The toxin accumulates in the food chain. Small fish such as anchovies eat the algae, and domoic acid along with it. Then the predators of those fish, including sea lions, seals and birds, become sick. The toxin also makes its way into filter feeders and can cause illness in humans who eat affected shellfish.