Press Releases
Red tides sighted
Friday, May 8, 2015
Five red tides have been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (May 8).
Four red tides were spotted yesterday (May 7) at Junk Bay, Silver Mine Bay Beach on Lantau Island, Rambler Channel near Hoi Hing Road and waters off Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Market. The red flag was hoisted at Silver Mine Bay Beach on Lantau Island immediately. One more was sighted today at Stanley Bay.
The red tides still persist and no associated death of fish has been reported so far.
"All cases were 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 Ma Wan, Cheung Sha Wan, Tung Lung Chau, Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Po Toi 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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