Caution Advised - Sea Slugs Washed Up After Easterly Winds

23 July 2010

North Shore residents are warned to be especially cautious about toxic sea slugs on beaches after easterly winds.

Over the past two days, 18 suspected sea slugs have been collected off Narrow Neck beach in Devonport. Eleven were collected yesterday (Thursday 22) and another seven today. North Shore City Council staff are patrolling the beaches daily, picking up any slugs they find, and members of the public have also collected some.

“There is no doubt that these slugs are very toxic to dogs, and potentially toxic to humans as well,” says Auckland Regional Council group manager monitoring and research Grant Barnes. “Children and pets should be very closely supervised on all Hauraki Gulf beaches.”

Mr Barnes is not aware of any animal casualties in the past two days, despite the number of slugs being washed up. However, he emphasises the need for caution.

He says that recent surveys have shown that Narrow Neck and Cheltenham are sea slug ‘hot spots’ with divers finding quite high numbers offshore during recent undersea surveys. Lower numbers of slugs were also found on other parts of the coastline throughout the North Shore and the Hauraki Gulf.

Strong onshore winds in recent days have generated waves which can wash the creatures up onto the beach.

“This is the same time as the slugs appeared last year,” he says. “Tests have shown that they are toxic again this year, though levels of toxicity vary.”

Research into the toxicity and distribution of the sea slugs continues. 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

© Scoop Media