About us

Our mission

Pacific Marine Mammal Center inspires ocean stewardship and conservation through animal rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education.

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

We are a West Coast Region Stranding Network Partner of the national Marine Mammal Health & Stranding Response Program, authorized under the Marine Mammal Protection Act through a stranding agreement issued by NOAA Fisheries to respond to live stranded, sick, injured, out of habitat, or entangled marine mammals. Additionally, we investigate deceased stranded marine mammals as they are important indicators of ocean, climate, & human health.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

PMMC Grand REOPENING

Monday, October 12, 2026
The big day is finally here! We’ve been busy expanding our mission and facilities to better serve marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education.
Be one of the first visitors to step inside our expanded Bob Barker Visitor Yard, explore our Tower 71 Gift Shop, and learn about all we’ve been up to since we closed our gates for construction in October of 2023.

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Building a better future

Join us as we usher in a new era for marine mammal care and education in Orange County - after 3 years of construction…

The expansion includes:

A water reclamation center that saves 5 million gallons of water each year
An expanded teaching hospital
Improved research capacity
Providing more students with access to our educational programming
& so much more!

OUR EXPANSION

Our Patients

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.

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. A 3-year expansion project unveiled a renovated center in 2026, welcoming in 55 years of PMMC.