A California sea lion enjoys the sun during the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Chris Lowe of the Long Beach States Shark Lab talks to a guest at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
A guest visits the Marine Mammal Care Center for its Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
A harbor seal floats in its cage while being treated during the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Volunteer Marie Kahal speaks to guest at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The community was invited to see elephant seal patients at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
An elephant seal relaxes in the sun during Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day in San Pedro, Calif., Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
There were many environmental learning booths for guests at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Cameron Johnson and his mom Julie receive a visit from a seal during the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Abigail Jiang goes fishing for awards at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
An elephant seal relaxes in the sun during the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The community was invited to see seal and seal lion patients at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, collaborating photographer)
A seal greets guests at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Contributing Photographer Tracey Roman)
Guest, learn about California sea lions at the Marine Mammal Care Centers Seal Day event in San Pedro, Calif. on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
This year’s Seal Day took on a special celebratory air this weekend, with the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, which hosts the festival each year, also celebrating its 30th anniversary.
“We are 30 years old and thriving,” said Amber Becerra, president of the center formed in the wake of Marineland’s closure, in an interview ahead of the event.
“It’s amazing to look back over the past 30 years and see how far MMCC has come,” she added, “and to look ahead to plan what we can accomplish in another 30 years.”
Seal Day, Saturday, June 18, featured food trucks, live music, performances, local artisans and vendors, activities for all ages, and raffles. But, as always, the biggest draws have been the recovering marine mammals.
The center is a non-profit hospital for seals and sea lions found stranded on the more than 70 miles of beaches from Malibu to Seal Beach due to illness, injury and malnutrition. MMCC focuses on ocean conservation and environmental education for local residents and visitors to the area, offering free tours led by educational volunteers. The center also welcomes thousands of school children every year for field trips, on-site and virtually.
It is located inside Angel’s Gate Park, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro.
The goal is to keep the animals only as long as necessary so that they can be more successfully released back into the ocean when they have recovered.
