They’re Surfin’ Y.U.C.Okay.
Bird poop, noxious algae and poisonous chemicals have made the iconic Santa Monica Pier space one of California’s nastiest seaside getaways — but unaware or unconcerned vacationers nonetheless swim in the germ-infested waters.
The sea round the well-known amusement spot at present holds an “F” grade from the Heal the Bay monitoring group as a consequence of excessive quantities of complete coliform, fecal coliform (E. coli), and Enterococcus species that authorities just lately discovered in the water.
Even fishing there isn’t protected, as authorities are warning anglers to not eat their catch as a consequence of poisonous chemicals in the fish.
The ionic Santa Monica Pier, infamous for the contaminated waters round it. Barbara Davidson/The California Post
fisherman Neil Johnson reveals dirty guts of a fish he caught from the Pier. Jared Downing for California Post
Tourists frolic in the polluted waters. Barbara Davidson for California Post
Yet beachgoers absorbing the solar on Friday both didn’t learn about the danger or simply didn’t care.
“For us, it’s all the same as long as the water isn’t too cold,” mentioned Aldo Frias, 49, who dropped in from Mexico City along with his spouse and son to get pleasure from an unseasonably heat weekend.
“Maybe we’ll try to swim,” Frias added with a shrug.
The Santa Monica Pier ranked quantity 2 on Heal the Bay’s “Beach Bummers” of 2025.
Nearby storm drains wash the Los Angeles filth into the ocean, however the true culprits are sea birds, which depart a storm of foul droppings in the seat as they flock to the vacationer hotspot in search of nesting spots.
Authorities have put in caging underneath the pier and anti-perch wires on the pillars to discourage the pigeons and seagulls, however they do little.
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As for the fish, the California Office of Environmental Health urges anglers to keep away from consuming sure species as a consequence of excessive quantities of mercury and PCBs — industrial chemicals linked to developmental issues, cancers, and heaps of different sicknesses.
“I don’t eat much around here because it’s pretty gross. A lot of times you’ll cut the fish open and the meat inside is black,” mentioned Neil Johnson, 19, who likes to journey from Arizona to fish off the Pier, however strictly for catch-and-release.
An indication warning fishermen of poisonous chemicals doubtlessly contaminating many fish species. Jared Downing for California Post
A gil parasite Neil Johnson faraway from a fish he caught. Jared Downing for California Post
Birds (pictured) defecate in the waters close to the Pier and contaminate it with micro organism. Barbara Davidson/The California Post
Johnson mentioned issues have gotten worse over the 5 years he has been bringing his bait and deal with to Santa Monica.
Johnson catches fish teeming with parasites, and he encounters “red tides” that fill the water with crimson algae blooms that wreck the ecosystem and could cause uncommon however doubtlessly deadly sicknesses in people, based on the NOAA’s National Ocean Service.
Meanwhile, the fish are getting smaller and scarcer.
“It hasn’t been as good as it was. I’m not sure what’s going on,” Johnson mentioned.
Both the Pier and seaside to the south, close to Pico Boulevard, have “F” grades from Heal the Bay, based mostly on the newest testing from the metropolis of Los Angeles, which was carried out on January 23.
The Pier is traditionally gross, however the southern seaside had constant “A” grades till final November, when its water out of the blue turned swamped with micro organism.
A person wades in the waters close to the Pier. Barbara Davidson for California Post
Beach goers frolic in the water at Santa Monica Beach close to the Santa Monica Pier. Barbara Davidson for California Post
Myriad human and environmental elements can pump filth right into a seaside’s water. Storm drains and foul climate are frequent culprits; a couple of stormy days can flip an in any other case pristine seaside right into a poisonous stew, based on Dr. Amalia Almada of the University of Southern California’s Sea Grant Program.
The micro organism and chemicals additionally wash to shore and contaminate the sand, Almada warned.
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Yet on Friday, one metal-detector-toting beachcomber, who goes by John, mentioned he didn’t thoughts wading in the surf and digging round in the sand for treasure.
“It’s gonna be fine. Everybody will be ok,” he mentioned.
The Post discovered Jesus Gonzalez, 35, splashing round in the water along with his spouse and son throughout a go to from Arizona.
The waters of the pier include poisonous chemicals and micro organism. Barbara Davidson for California Post
Many vacationers are heedless of official warnings to not swim in the water. Barbara Davidson for California Post
A person enters the water along with his canine despite an indication warning individuals to not swim. Barbara Davidson for California Post
“It’s our first time here. We didn’t know the water was contaminated,” Gonzalez mentioned.
“It probably is contaminated, though, because we see a lot of garbage in the streets. We don’t see that much garbage where we live in Phoenix.”
One on-duty lifeguard, who recognized himself as Chaz, mentioned he and his colleagues are well-aware of the germs and chemicals in the water, and “no swimming” indicators are a near-permanent fixture.
Chaz nonetheless swims for enjoyable, micro organism and all.
“I’m used to it by now,” he mentioned.
As for the oblivious vacationers and fishermen, nothing is stopping beachgoers from ignoring the warning indicators and taking a dip in the septic surf.
“We just tell you to swim at your own risk,” Chaz mentioned.
