About us

Our mission

Pacific Marine Mammal Center inspires ocean stewardship through animal rescue and rehabilitation, medical research, STEM education programs, and advocacy for a healthy ocean.

We are the only center in Orange County licensed to rescue and respond to sea lions, seals, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Topchef orange county

APRIL 6, 2025 | IRVINE MARRIOTT | 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Be a part of the TopChef culinary event where the best chefs, wineries, and restaurants join together to benefit Pacific Marine Mammal Center!

GET TICKETS

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SEAL YOU LATER illustration by Brittany Liscoe

PLAN A VISIT

Our visitor yard is currently closed to the public as we are expanding our facility. While we cannot physically welcome you to our center, we are excited to provide new ways for you to stay involved in our mission! Check out details on our rebuild and stay tuned for construction updates!

LEARN MORE

Building a better ocean

We’re excited to invite you to join us as we usher in a new era for our organization - The Next Wave expansion.

The Next Wave Campaign will include:

A water reclamation system that will save our community 15,000 gallons of water every day
Increasing the standards of animal care
Improving our research capacity
Providing more students with access to our educational programming
Laying the groundwork for powerful advocacy that will help us as we Build a Better Ocean - one with fewer plastics and less chemical pollution.

THE NEXT WAVE

OUR HISTORY

Pacific Marine Mammal Center began as Friends of the Sea Lion in 1971 with only three volunteers:

Jim Stauffer
John Cunningham
Dr. Rose Ekeberg

PMMC was the first marine mammal rehabilitation facility in California and was established before the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. We now share the responsibility for marine mammal rehabilitation with six other centers along California’s coastline.

Our Beginnings

In the spring of 1971, a little girl approached Jim Stauffer, a Laguna Beach lifeguard, on the beach. The little girl told Jim that she had seen a seal on the beach. Jim hopped in his lifeguard jeep and went to go investigate. What he found was a young Pacific harbor seal. When Jim placed the animal in his jeep, it leaped right out. Jim decided the animal must be healthy and just needed to rest, so he returned to work.
Jim's 1st Patient

Concern for the animal nagged at him all day. When Jim returned to check on the small seal, it was still on the beach. Jim picked up the seal and took it to the Dover Shores Animal Hospital, where Dr. Rod La Shell examined the animal and found that it had lungworms. With advice from Dr. La Shell, Jim nursed the harbor seal back to health and released the animal back into the ocean.
A Growing Need

Word of Jim’s nursing skills soon spread. Whenever there was a sick or injured seal or sea lion on the beach, lifeguards would contact Jim. Within a few weeks, Jim was caring for a second California sea lion. John Cunningham, another lifeguard, began helping Jim care for the animals.
New Education

During the school year, John taught at Laguna Beach High School, and, in 1972, he developed a marine science class. One of the requirements for the students of John's class was volunteering at Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Dr. Rose Ekeberg of Laguna Canyon Animal Hospital provided medicine and medical advice, as well as housing for some of the animals at her clinic.
Expanding Quickly

The Department of Fish and Game issued the first permit of its kind in California. Jim was allowed to temporarily house seals and sea lions at his home. With the organization growing quickly, a facility other than Jim’s home and pool was necessary.
Final Home

At that time, the local SPCA was using a barn owned by the city of Laguna Beach. In 1976, when the SPCA relocated, the building was offered to the founders. Jim Stauffer, John Cunningham and a few volunteers began renovation of the barn that still functions as the center’s rehabilitation hub today.

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Voices of pmmc

Hear stories of support from the people who make Pacific Marine Mammal Center the healing hospital and educational non-profit it is recognized as today.