Blue-ringed octopus found in Torquay rockpool

A TORQUAY resident found a blue-ringed octopus near Torquay back beach recently, and has warned beach-goers to look but not touch if they come across the beautiful but deadly creatures.

Steve Taylor said he spotted a group of children clustered around a rockpool at Rocky Point, and walked over to see what they were looking at.

Upon realising it was a blue-ring octopus, he picked up the creature in a net and moved it away into deeper water.

“Not many people are aware of the potential deadly consequences in handling this locally common creature,” Mr Taylor said.

According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, there are several species collectively known as blue-ringed octopi that can be found in Australian coastal waters, but they all have a bite containing a strong, fast-acting neurotoxin that
paralyses the target by blocking the nerves from transmitting messages.

This toxin is known to have caused the deaths of at least three people – two in Australia and one in Singapore – and many more have come close to death through paralysis of the breathing muscles. Fortunately, blue-ringed octopi are retiring
creatures and will only bite if they are being harassed and poked.

“As a Torquay local I think it’s very important that everyone, especially visitors, should have some knowledge of the local dangers and to look, not touch,” Mr Taylor said.