Up and down the coast, sea birds, sea lions, dolphins and even whales have fallen victim to the bloom starting in late February. One recent Sunday, 16 dead dolphins were collected from San Diego-area beaches. … This is the fourth year in a row there’s been significant blooming of Pseudo-nitzschia off the coast of California. It creates domoic acid, a neurotoxin that accumulates in small fish, like sardines and anchovies, which are then eaten by marine mammals and birds. … Recent algae blooms were fueled by La Niña weather patterns that brought colder, nutrient-rich waters to the surface. A “ribbon” of cold water formed in December and was still in place in April, extending about 30 miles off the shoreline.