Press Releases

Three red tides have been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (January 30).

On January 25, a red tide was spotted by staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at Po Pin Chau, Sai Kung. On the next day, Marine Police and staff of the AFCD spotted red tides at Tai Lam near Marine Police Tai Lam Chung Base and a section of Tolo Harbour from Ma Liu Shui to Sam Mun Tsai respectively.

The red tide at Tolo Harbour still persists while the other two have dissipated. No associated death of fish has been reported in these occurrences so far.

"The red tide at Po Pin Chau, Sai Kung was formed by Mesodinium rubrum, and those at Tai Lam near Marine Police Tai Lam Chung Base and Tolo Harbour were formed by Noctiluca scintillans. All these algal species are non-toxic and commonly found in Hong Kong waters," a spokesman for the working group said.

The AFCD urged mariculturists at Kau Sai, Kai Lung Wan, Leung Shuen Wan, Tiu Cham Wan, Tai Tau Chau, Ma Wan, Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai East, Yung Shue Au and Lo Fu Wat 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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