Millions of Maggots Have Washed Up on Sydney's Northern Beaches

Beachgoers in Sydney got a nasty surprise this weekend when they found a "moving carpet of white maggots" covering Newport and Bilgola beaches in the city's north. On Tuesday, the Northern Beaches Council was forced to close Bilgola rock pool because the infestation has gotten so bad.

Bilgola local Colin Weir told the Daily Telegraph he was heading down for a swim when he spotted the maggots. "I’ve been going to this beach every year for 15 years and have never seen anything like this… There were millions of them," he said. “It has been quite the talk of the beaches this morning."

One unlucky woman went for a swim not realising the water was teaming with maggots, Weir told the paper, "only to later realise her swimming costume was full of maggots."

The local council tried to empty the pool to fix the issue; however, it didn't work—because the ocean water was still filled with maggots.

According to the council’s manager of environment and infrastructure, Ben Taylor, the infestation occurred because flies had laid eggs on seaweed, which had washed up on the beaches.

“Natural beach conditions along with warm weather have contributed to an infestation in the seaweed caused by flies laying larvae,” told the Daily Telegraph. “We encourage people not to swim in the areas affected and abide by any pool closures."