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Sea slug - Source: ONE News -
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The government is providing $250,000 to investigate the sea slug problem on Auckland beaches.
The slugs contain the same poison found in puffer fish and were last year found to be responsible for a number of dog deaths.
Two dogs died, and others became ill, after eating sea slugs found on the beaches from about July onwards last winter.
Studies of the dead dogs' vomit showed it contained tetrodoxin, which was sourced to several sea slugs.
Research minister Wayne Mapp says the Cawthron Institute will work with the Hauraki Maori Trust Board.
Mapp said information that will help deal with the pests is a top priority and he wants to know if there is a wider threat to seafood.
Meanwhile, parents needed to be aware of where children were swimming or playing on beaches and what they were handling, a spokesperson from Auckland Regional Public Health Service said.
Anyone who spotted a sea slug should not touch it but should mark the spot and ask for an environmental health officer at the city or district council.
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