A 15-year-old girl was attacked during her swim test in Long Beach by a sea lion sickened by a recent toxic algae bloom, according to the girl's family.

Marine experts say these attacks are not common, but are happening more often. That’s due to a toxic algae bloom that are poisoning marine mammals, making them become aggressive and violent as they travel to shallow water and get closer to humans.

The toxicity of this particular bloom seems to be a lot higher, ” said a marine biologist. “Animals are in worse shape than they have been in the past.”

A 15-year-old Long Beach girl is recovering from a sea lion attack that happened while she was swimming over the weekend at Alamitos Beach.

Phoebe Beltran was in the homestretch of her 1,000-yard swim when she suddenly felt an intense pain as the sea lion bit her right arm.

It bit her in the arm and swam off as lifeguards rushed to help her, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.

The attack occurred in the area of Ocean Boulevard and Cherry Avenue, in front of the Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters on 2100 East Ocean Boulevard.

Phoebe Beltran sustained several cuts on her right arm and had to be hospitalized after she was attacked by a sea lion in Long Beach.

A sea lion attacked a girl taking her lifeguard test in Long Beach, California. Toxic algae blooms have recently poisoned sea lions and marine animals.