‘Poisonous’ pufferfish on Auckland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty beaches spark warning

Beachgoers are warned not to touch dead poisonous porcupine fish that have washed up on several beaches on the North Island’s east coast and as far north as Auckland’s Snells Beach, Newshub reports. “This sometimes happens during stormy weather,” coastal scientist Dr Josie Crenshaw said. “We advise people and pets to keep a safe distance and not touch the fish as they have a neurotoxin in their skin and intestines.” Pufferfish contain an extremely potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin (TTX), which can cause muscle paralysis and an inability to breathe if ingested.