Enjoy the beaches this summer, but be careful

The sea slug, pleurobranchaea maculata, which should be avoided at the beach.

With a warm long weekend predicted, people are asked to remain cautious and keep a close eye on their children and pets at the beach. That's the latest advice from the public health officials.

The Auckland Regional Public Health Service has recommended 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.

Read more in the regional health service media release.

The advice comes after five dogs died after visiting beaches earlier this year. A toxin found in sea slugs has been identified as the cause of death.

Auckland Regional Council has been coordinating the efforts of various agencies investigating what caused the dog deaths. A technical report on the investigation is available:

TR2009/108 Review of toxins in the sea slug and coincidence of dog deaths along Auckland beaches