Californians may expect to see an increase in dead and live stranded seals and sea lions along the coast due to possible decreases in food supplies. Scientists at NOAA use satellite images to monitor the buildup of warm waters. This enables people and organizations, such as The Marine Mammal Center, to prepare for catastrophic effects. Coastal upwelling and cold currents along the eastern Pacific margin typically contribute to the productive marine ecosystems along the California coast.
Trade winds relax, sea level and sea-surface temperatures rise and the thermocline depth increases.
This usually means the fish are either deeper or have migrated out of range. Thus, the overall productivity of the marine environment generally decreases due to the decrease in fish and plankton abundance. As a result, the distribution and quality of prey for some marine mammals decreases. Pinnipeds, which are our primary patients here at The Center, may be affected because they are predators at higher trophic levels in the food chain. During the lactation period, pups rely on the foraging success of their mothers.