2019/01/17
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Red tide sighted
Friday, February 6, 2015

A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (February 6).

The red tide was spotted by a member of the public at the Lam Tsuen River near Yuen Chau Tsai, Tai Po, on February 3.

The red tide has already dissipated and no associated death of fish has been reported so far.

"The red tide was formed by Noctiluca scintillans, which is non-toxic and commonly found in Hong Kong waters," a spokesman for the working group said.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at 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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