Napier: Health warning as big bounty of dead sea creatures washes ashore at Ahuriri

Kina, sea cucumber and some crayfish were spotted among the dead sealife washed up at Ahuriri on Thursday. Photo / Warren Buckland

A health warning against consuming seafood washed ashore on Napier’s Hardinge Rd, Ahuriri, beachfront remained in place on Thursday evening pending establishment of what caused the event.

But beachgoers had already been gathering it in bags before authorities had time to issue the warning, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council saying two scientists were taking samples for testing.

The Council posted on social media at about 2pm it had received reports of dead sea life washing up on the beach, and that it was in touch with the Ministry of Primary Industries (Fisheries New Zealand) and the Department of Conservation (DoC).

“People should not gather shellfish or sea life in this area,” the Council warned.

Speculation included the impact of algal bloom which has been frequent on the Napier coast for over a month, the recent storm which has deposited hundreds of tonnes on east coast beaches, including the Bay, and deoxygenation in the warming of the ocean, with warmer seas also off the east coast.

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Medical Officer of Health Dr Bridget Wilson said people should not gather and consume washed-up sea life.

“It is best that people do not come into contact with the dead sea life as investigations are still underway to understand what is causing it to wash up,” she said. “There’s the potential that there could be a public health risk, particularly if eaten, and so it’s best to be cautious while the cause of this event is investigated.”

New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said: ”We are working together with the council to investigate the cause but do not believe it is a result of disease due to the wide variety of species dying.”

“It is likely the mortalities were caused by recent heavy rain, similar to what was experienced in East Cape following Cyclone Hale,” he said.

”In the meantime we advise that where dead or dying sea life washes ashore, do not touch it and do not eat it as it may not be safe to eat.

”Please heed any public health warnings issued relating to swimming and collecting seafood,” he said.

Among the dead sealife were crayfish, kina, starfish and sea cucumber and local kaitiaki echoed the warnings that while it was natural to gather it as kai moana it was best left until the questions had been answered.

“It’s right that they find the source and how it has happened,” one said.

One woman who had gathered kina said it took her back to her younger days when “we used to come down all the time” to gather mussels and other seafood.

“Most of it’s not there now,” she said.