El Niño ocean warming 'causing havoc' for seals off California coast

Unprecedented numbers of dead or starving seals washing ashore as Pacific Ocean warms, with experts saying they are 'preparing for the worst' in 2016

The warming of the Pacific Ocean caused by the El Nino climate event is "causing havoc" among marine animals off California's coast, with unprecedented numbers of dead or starving seals being washed ashore.

The San Francisco-based Marine Mammal Center said it has rescued 106 emaciated northern fur seals so far in 2015 - three times greater than the previous record year for rescues. The center said the seals are victim of the exceptionally strong El Nino, which has brought a surge of warm water species, such as red tuna crabs and hammerhead sharks, to California's coast.