The Auckland Regional Public Health Service is reminding people about the potential for poisonous sea slugs on Hauraki Gulf beaches, and still advising some caution.
During August and September, 15 dogs became unwell with symptoms consistent with tetrodotoxin (TTX) poisoning after eating sea slugs at Hauraki Gulf beaches. Six of these dogs died.
ARPHS current health advice is:
- 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 it well alone, and contact Actionline, phone (09) 486 8600 or email actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz
TTX is known to be a potent poison found in tropical puffer fish but not previously described in sea slugs. TTX is extremely toxic to humans and even a very small dose would be fatal.
While no sightings of sea slugs have been reported recently on Auckland beaches, sea slugs are a wide-ranging organism in the marine environment of New Zealand, and a dog died in early October on the Coromandel Peninsula from TTX poisoning. Sea slugs may be found washed up on beaches anytime, anywhere, probably related to their breeding cycle and prevailing weather patterns.
Early symptoms of TTX poisoning include numbness and tingling around the mouth, and nausea. This numbness and tingling can then spread to the face, tongue and other areas, with paralysis, in co-ordination and slurred speech. Medical attention should be sought immediately should any person become unwell after going to the beach – particularly after contact with a sea slug.
The North Shore City Council thanks its residents for their cooperation with these ongoing warnings.
Information for a First Aid Response for Tetrodotoxin (TTX) Poisoning is available on the ARPHS website.
For more frequently asked questions on this issue please see the following PDF on the Auckland Regional Council website.
For public health enquiries contact: Auckland Regional Public Health Service on (09) 623 4600.
For further information please contact Actionline, phone (09) 486 8600 or email actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz
