0 North Bound 0 South Bound 2.5 hrs

February 2nd 2025 Sunday

Cloudy with heavy fog and low visibility throughout the day impacting ability to see migrating Gray Whales. None observed during best on effort time.

Other news and updates:

• Brown Pelican with blue banding on leg sighted
• PCH opens where homes and other structures were destroyed in the Palisades Fire
• Environmental Crisis post Palisades Fire with rain washing toxic debris into ocean
• Dead Gray Whale found washed up at Dockweiler State Beach

Today a tagged Brown Pelican was spotted flying low over the ocean. Last spring several hundred Brown Pelicans were rescued dehydrated, underweight, injured and stranded on beaches up and down the coast. Rehabilitated Brown Pelicans are tagged with blue numbered bands when released since 2009. Birds with bandings or tagged sightings can be reported to The International Bird Rescue or USGS (United States Geological Surveys )to help with tracking and research.

The PCH reopened south into Santa Monica with closed slow lanes in both direction to protect damaged homes and property along the Palisades Fire damaged areas. Police out in heavy presence to protect homes and prevent looters and vandals. Workers are still removing debris and clearing areas in preparation for the upcoming Atmospheric River Rain storms expected next week.

Gray Whales in a Sea of Trouble

Gray Whales risk potential short and long term consequences from the fire debris that will flow into the ocean from three recent local fires including the Mountain fire in Camarillo November 2024 which destroyed 200+ residential and commercial structures, the Franklin fire in December 2024 in Malibu destroyed 20+ structures and the Palisades Fire which destroyed over 2,000 homes structures

Rain water runoff ends up at the ocean where Gray Whales are bottom feeders sucking in the sandy mud from the ocean floor. The whales stop to rest and feed along Malibu coast, especially at Point Dume with calves during the second phase of the northern migration.

The Gray Whales have been in a “Sea of Trouble” the last few years, especially during the UME (Unusual Mortality Event) which ended in 2023 declared to be from climate changes. This year migrating Gray whales and all cetaceans, shore birds and humans in the ocean along the coast of Malibu and Ventura county have the added risks associated with the toxic bacteria filled water that our coast will endure due to the runoff from fire including, toxic lead paint, fire retardants sprayed on thousands of acres in the Santa Monica Mountains, plastics melted and microplastics in ash.

Dead Gray Whale Dockweiler State Beach

Further south a dead Gray Whale was found washed up at Dockweiler State Beach near tower 50 after being discovered earlier just off Marina Del Ray. The female Gray Whale, 38 ft in length is reported to have bite marks that were first thought to be from recently seen pod of orcas on January 30th who had reportedly killed a dolphin. The 14 ton Gray whale was examined by John Warner of the Marine Mammal Rescue team it was determined the bite marks could be from sharks, more specifically a Great White shark. According to sources on scene; the whale was partially decapitated and necropsy results are pending and the cause of death is pending.

Updated: LA Times also reported on this story with Kieth Matassa the chief executive of The Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance (OARRA)who said the female gray whale was underweight with heavy lice load and felt the shark bites could have been after death and possible blunt force trauma from ship may have caused death. They are awaiting necropsy results.

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