In an unprecedented ordinance which has generated both speculation and alarm, Peru has closed all ocean beaches north of Lima to the public.
Health officials are taking the extraordinary step of closing the beaches after hundreds of dolphin carcasses washed up on the shores of Peru – and the reason why continues to be a mystery. Peru’s Health Ministry and oceanographic institute say 877 dolphins and 1,200 pelicans have been found dead on the beaches since February, but their deaths don’t appear to be related.
The warning..

more  http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/05/07/dolphin-deaths-prompt-health-officials-to-close-peru-beaches/

PELICAN DIE-OFF – PERU (02): PARASITES AND MALNUTRITION
Date: Fri, 4 May 2012
Source: Peru.com  [in Spanish, transl.; edited]
http://peru.com/2012/05/04/actualidad/nacionales/pelicanos-libertad-murieron-desnutricion-y-parasitosis-noticia-62307

Pelicans from La Libertad died from malnutrition and parasitosis
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The lack of the Peruvian anchoveta (_Engraulis ringens_) [a fish of the anchovy family] and severe parasitism caused the death of hundreds of pelicans along the coast of La Libertad, according to an investigation carried out by specialists from Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (UNT).

Carlos Bocanegra, from the Fishing Biology Department of UNT, said that the persistence of summer warm temperatures is forcing the anchoveta, main pray for pelicans, to move south.

"We have found food items not frequently eaten by pelicans, such as catfish, shore fish, in theirs stomachs which indicates that given the lack of usual food, they have predated on what they could find", he said.

Another result of their study showed that the birds had an ascarid worm, a common pelican parasite, that contributed to the deterioration of their defenses. 
Bocanegra said that the ascarid worm, which can measure up to 20 – 30 cm, causes anaemia, malnutrition and even death.

He warned that the main public health concern for people living nearby might be getting these worms, by eating the pelican meat or by getting in contact with the dead birds.