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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Holiday Catalog

    Order now to get the perfect PMMC gifts in time for the holidays!

    Are you an OC local? Stop by our pop-up shop at Visit Laguna Beach, 381 Forest Avenue.

    Hours: 11am-2pm Mon - Sat

    Browse the catalog here.

    SHOP NOW

  • Hospitality night

    December 6, 2024 | 5pm - 9pm

    Join us on Forest Ave in Laguna Beach for some holiday cheer!

  • 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 the Pacific Marine Mammal Center!

    Reserve your spot

  • SPLASH 2025

    October 2025 | 5pm - 10pm

    Join us for our annual fundraising event, held at The Ranch at Laguna Beach.

    WAITLIST
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!

Building a better ocean

Sea lion sitting on the rock
THE NEXT WAVE building a better ocean logo

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.

OUR HISTORY

Two sea lions kissing by the beach
Seal looking back to the camera

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.

  • A sea lion and Jim Stauffer

    Our Beginnings

    In the spring of 1971, a little girl approached Jim Stauffer, a Newport 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 standing by the table with the sign FRIENDS OF THE SEA LION

    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.

  • The PMMC team releasing sea lions

    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.

  • sitting on the ground with sea lions and students

    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.

  • The PMMC team and sea lions at Jim's home

    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.

  • The PMMC center back in 1976

    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.

Voices of pmmc

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

More coming soon!

Follow us on Socials

⭐ We are recruiting for our Fish House Crew! ⭐ Do you find yourself seeking out opportunities to be around marine life? Do you enjoy being around like-minded people? Do you like working in a fast-paced, but fun environment? Fish House Crew Voluntee
Sometimes the best medicine is a good laugh…and a good nap! 🦭💙
Our symbolic adoption kit is a donation that comes with an interactive and educational kit for young ocean enthusiasts! 💙 The proceeds from this purchase help our marine mammal patients recover and return to their ocean home. This adorable package i
Much like a class schedule, our hospital has a routine schedule for rehabilitation 🦭 While our patients are being treated, we have to ensure they don’t lose their skills for surviving in the wild. Our animal care team combats habituation by pr
Are you a high school student passionate about making a difference for our oceans? Do you want to connect with like-minded youth and become an advocate for the environment? ⭐ Join the Youth Action Council (YAC), a youth leadership program focused on
Gray whales travel from the Bering Sea to the Baja lagoons in Mexico to give birth, about 12,000 miles round trip! Get a chance to feel the baleen from these gentle giants in our Marine Mammals on the Move programs. Click the link in bio to sign up t
Last week, Graphic Design + Digital Media students from @lagunacollege interviewed members of PMMC staff at Heisler Park as part of our new and ongoing collaboration with the college. Interviewed last week was Shawn Abbey, our Stranding Coordinator,
Just keep swimming 🩵🦭
The sealion is swimming under the ocean
The sealions are sitting on the rock

  • LOOKING FOR WAYS TO JOIN OUR MISSION?

GET INVOLVED!

While our center is currently closed to the public for construction, there are still plenty of opportunities to get active in our mission.