Toxic Sea Hares Wash Up on Eden's Aslings Beach, Pet Owners Warned

Thousands of toxic sea hares, a type of sea slug, have washed up on Aslings Beach in Eden, posing a threat to pets and sparking curiosity among beachgoers.

The sea hares, which began arriving at the popular beach a week ago, feed on algae that contain toxins, which they can retain and use for defence. Macquarie University marine biologist Culum Brown said it was no coincidence that they arrived alongside a naturally occurring algal bloom.

"They graze on algae," he said.

"The danger here is that some of the algae they eat contain various toxins which the slug can maintain and use as a predator defence."

High tides and a clean-up effort by the Bega Valley Shire Council have reduced the number of sea hares on the beach, but some remain, causing intrigue among beachgoers. Professor Brown described the sea hares as "odd looking", but said it was not unusual to see them wash ashore in large numbers on the southern Australian coastline.

The Bega Valley Shire Council has warned pet owners to keep a distance from the sea hares, as they can pose a serious risk to dogs if they lick, mouth or ingest them. Council sustainability manager Derek Van Bracht said:

"Council crews removed thousands of sea hares from Aslings Beach last week."

"The volume of sea hares on the beach has since reduced, however a visible algal bloom remains offshore."

"So dog owners are advised to stay vigilant when walking their pets in the area."

Professor Brown advised people to take precautions when handling the sea hares, saying:

"If you do handle them, you should definitely wash your hands."

"Don't touch your eyes, because they can cause irritation."

He also described the sea hares, saying:

"When they're underwater, they have protrusions that look a bit like the ears of a rabbit or a hare."

"They produce an ink-like excretion when they're alarmed, a bit like squid."