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21
Institute of Oceanography
recently determined that
there has been a substantial
decrease in Southern California
coastal fish numbers among
both fished and nonfished
species; the study concluded
that an oceanographic climate
alteration may be to blame.
A combination of factors
could also be at play. Recent
research examining Galapagos
sea lions suggests that compared
with pinnipeds in the wild,
pinnipeds affected by human
populations can exhibit a greater
decline in body condition when
they need to mount an immune
response, a relationship that
could quickly become extreme
when fish are hard to come by.
Adding to the issue’s
complexity is some residents’
view that simply investing
time, money and effort into
determining the cause of the
stranding crisis can oppose
natural selection. Others argue
that human interference could
have a negative impact on the
food supply of sharks and other
predators.
No matter the reason for the
crisis or the “right” thing to do,
the veterinarian in me felt a
rush of joy when four months
after my initial visit the PMMC
invited me to witness a special
event: O’Brien, the skinny pup
who faced such a bleak outlook
at his rescue, was ready to
be released. Now weighing
86 pounds, he was not only
eating well on his own, but also
adroitly competing for fish.
I watched in elated, hopeful
silence as a volunteer raised the
cage door and O’Brien headed
for the surf — a fat, brown blur
racing across the sand to dive
into the Pacific.
—Allison Vitsky Sallmon, DVM
SINCE 1963
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