Press Releases

A number of red tides have been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (June 6).

Staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department have observed a total of 16 red tides between May 31 and June 5 on beaches including Stanley Main Beach, Hairpin Beach, South Bay Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach, St Stephen's Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Shek O Beach, Hung Shing Yeh Beach and Lo So Shing Beach on Lamma Island, Silver Mine Bay Beach, Lower Cheung Sha Beach and Pui O Beach on Lantau Island, and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay First Beach in Sai Kung. Red flags were hoisted at the beaches immediately.

One red tide was spotted on June 3 by a staff member of the Environmental Protection Department at Tseung Kwan O while three others were spotted by members of the public at Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, Hok Tsui Wan, Tin Wan and West Lamma Channel from June 3 to 5.

Except for the red tides at Stanley Main Beach, South Bay Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach, Chung Hom Kok Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Tseung Kwan O, Tin Wan and West Lamma Channel which still persist, the other red tides have already dissipated. No associated death of fish has been reported in these occurrences so far.

"The red tides at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay First Beach were formed by Gonyaulax polygramma and Cochlodinium cf. geminatum respectively whereas all the other cases were formed by Noctiluca scintillans. All these algal species are commonly found in Hong Kong waters and are non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Ma Nam Wat, Po Toi, Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan, Kau Sai, Kai Lung Wan, Tai Tau Chau, Leung Shuen Wan, Tiu Cham Wan, Po Toi O, Cheung Sha Wan, Ma Wan and Tung Lung Chau fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely.

Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

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