Sea slug surveillance shows need for continued caution

21June 2010

Almost a year after the first incident of poisoning from toxic sea slugs, surveillance of sea slugs around Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf beaches indicates there is a risk again this winter.

The Auckland Regional Council and Cawthron Institute surveyed the immediate subtidal areas of Auckland beaches for the grey side-gilled sea slug Pleurobranchaea maculata – the species found to contain tetrodotoxin (TTX) causing death and illness in dogs last winter.

The dive survey carried out indicates that Narrow Neck Beach is again a ‘hot spot’ for the toxic sea slugs, with 48 slugs found – the highest of all nine sites surveyed. Further research is required to confirm why this is occurring.

Sea slugs were also found underwater at Browns Bay (1), Long Bay (6), Mission Bay (5), Cheltenham (16), Illiomama Rock near Rangitoto Island (14), and the Bayswater mooring (4). Omana and Eastern Beach were also surveyed, but no sea slugs were observed.

Samples of the slugs have been collected and will be tested for TTX, with results available later this month.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service continues to caution beach-goers and recommends the following:

• Children and pets still need to be supervised on Hauraki Gulf beaches.
• Adults, children and pets should not eat anything found washed up on any Hauraki Gulf beach.
• Parents need to be aware of where their children are swimming or playing, and what they are handling.
• Sea slugs on any beach must be avoided. If you find one, mark the spot, leave well alone, phone the city or district council and ask for an Environmental Health Officer who will collect the slug safely.

The surveillance was undertaken as part of the ongoing operation plan which aims to find out more about the sea slugs while reducing the risk to public health.

The Auckland Regional Council will continue coordinating the efforts of the various agencies involved in the response. For more information go to www.arc.govt.nz/seaslugs or for public health advice visit www.arphs.govt.nz

ENDS

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