Sea lions on the California coast are being sickened by domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by algae that are a food source for fish, which they eat. Algal blooms are not unusual this time of year, but this summer's crisis follows another one less than a year ago, alarming and overwhelming the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) team based about 120 miles (190 kilometers) north of Los Angeles. "We had a pretty intense bloom last summer but this year is way worse than we've ever seen in the 35 years I've been practicing marine mammal medicine," said Sam Dover, the executive director and founder of CIMWI. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES