‘Ocean World Diva’ dies at 42

Marina, a 42-year old senior resident and beloved Harbour Seal at Ocean World aquarium, passed away May 17. After being with Ocean World for 21 years, she succumbed to old age. Marina was rescued from the wild in 1999 and was deemed un-releasable by the local Marine Mammal Rescue Center after suffering from malnutrition, poor eyesight and several bite wounds.

Marina recovered and quickly became a staff favorite. She was deemed the "Ocean World Diva." Over her time at Ocean World, an estimated 1.6 million tourists got the chance to visit her and learn about marine mammals. In the wild, the lifespan of a Harbour Seal is around 30 years, so Marina lived a long life in a loving and caring environment since she arrived in Crescent City, and her loss is felt by our the staff and especially the animal handlers