Dog owners warned to keep pets away after deadly puffer fish wash up in New Plymouth

Puffer fish can be potentially fatal to dogs. Photo / Tonkin + Taylor

A discovery of more than 50 puffer fish washed up on a New Plymouth beach has prompted a warning for dog owners to keep their canine friends away from the fatal floaters.

Environmental and Engineering consultancy group Tonkin + Taylor notified the New Plymouth District Council of the finding today after a terrestrial ecologist reported the discovery on Fitzroy Beach around June 14 while working in the area.

The organisation only became aware of it this morning during a debrief from the staff member.

More than 50 puffer fish were found washed up on Fitzroy Beach last month. Photo / Tonkin + Taylor

Dog owners are being warned to keep an eye out for the fish, also known as porcupine fish due to their spikes, as it is part of a species which contains a lethal neurotoxin which can be deadly to dogs if they eat it.

"Apparently Puffer Fish are not uncommon in NZ waters and you may occasionally find the odd one on the beach but rarely in large numbers like this," a post by Tonkin + Taylor said.

"One possible explanation is that they might have been caught in gurnard nets. Because puffer fish puff up when they are stressed or threatened, they might have floated in on the tide."

New Plymouth District Council workers visited this afternoon and could not see any of the carcasses still on the beach.

Council manager of customer and regulatory solutions Katrina Brunton said it was advisable for dog owners to still keep a close eye on their pets when walking on Fitzroy Beach as one or two fish could still be around.

"We haven't had any calls from dog owners about their animals being affected by the puffer fish," she said.

Niwa principal scientist for fisheries Dr Malcolm Francis said it was uncommon to hear of such a large number of the fish being washed up. However it was not uncommon for a couple to be found washed up on west coast beaches.

"It belongs to a group of fish that is lethal so it would be well wise to stay well clear of it."

Francis said if any of the puffer fish were still on the beach they would have probably degraded and decomposed enough not to cause a problem. "But certainly when they are relatively fresh, I would be a bit concerned about dogs. I can't imagine people eating them because they are very spiky and that would deter just about everybody I think."

He said puffer fish were occasionally caught in trawl nets put out by fishing crews and they could puff themselves up with water or air. "If they have got air inside them they float and when they get thrown back in the water they might just get blown ashore by the wind."