Editor’s Note: The Blue Ringed Octopus was taken out of the Ross Jones Pool by Scott Benson Jimenez, who scooped it out using a coffee cup and returned it safely to the ocean.
Swimmers in Coogee are advised to take precautions and be on the lookout for a deadly blue-ringed octopus, which was spotted by a young boy at the Ross Jones Rockpool.
The boy and his mother reported the sighting to the Coogee Surf Life Surfing Club, prompting the temporary closure of the pool facility on Friday, 1 October 2021.
Randwick City Council was also alerted to the incident and posted makeshift signs informing the public of the pool’s closure as a precaution. However, an official from the Council said they could not find the sea creature as there were plenty of seaweeds in the water.
Plans to drain the tidal pool were broached to catch the blue-ringed octopus but as there were no other sightings, Council has reopened Ross Jones Rockpool to the public as of the weekend.
Ross Jones Rockpool, built in 1947, is at the southern end of the beach and it’s a popular family spot. The facility is regularly cleaned on a Monday, depending on the weather conditions as the tidal wash usually brings in seaweeds and other creatures.
Meanwhile, blue-ringed octopuses are a common sight on Sydney beaches, especially in the summer season. However, they are very hard to spot as they could camouflage and hide well.
These shy, beautiful marine animals release a powerful venom to protect themselves and could “bite” or inject what they perceive as threats.
Coogee swimmers are advised not to touch the octopus if they find one. In the event of a bite, they must seek medical attention as soon as possible as the venom from a blue-ringed octopus can cause full paralysis that can constrict a person’s breathing muscles, per the Australian Museum.
