2019/01/17
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Red tide sighted
Friday, March 13, 2015

A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (March 13).

The red tide was spotted by staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at Pak Lap Wan to Wang Chau, Sai Kung, on March 9.

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 AFCD urged mariculturists at Kau Sai, Kai Lung Wan, Leung Shuen Wan, Tiu Cham Wan and Tai Tau 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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