The toxicity of this particular bloom seems to be a lot higher, ” said a marine biologist. “Animals are in worse shape than they have been in the past.”

A teenager was attacked by a sea lion in Long Beach while she was trying out to become a junior guard cadet. 15-year-old Phoebe Beltran has several cuts on her right arm and was hospitalized following the confrontation with the animal on Sunday.

Phoebe Beltran was due to take a swim test for Long Beach’s cadet lifeguard programme when the attack happened in front of a lifeguard tower