Photo of the Week

A sea lion on the beach south of Scripps Pier on Feb. 25. Though the health of this sea lion was unknown, a high number of strandings of sick and malnourished sea lions have been have been reported throughout Southern California in 2015. The long-term observation program California Cooperative Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI), a partnership of Scripps, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and NOAA, has observed this year waters as much as 4 degrees C (7.2 degrees F) off Southern California, warm-water plankton, and low abundances of eggs of anchovy and sardine, indicating poor forage for sea lions and other predators. NOAA's Marine Mammal Stranding Network offers information for members of the public who encounter sea lions and other marine mammals.

Related Image Gallery: Photo of the Week 2015