Press Releases

Four red tides have been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (May 15).

All the red tides were spotted by staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Three red tides were sighted on May 9 at Repulse Bay Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach and Chung Hom Kok Beach on Hong Kong Island. Another one was sighted at Pui O Beach, Lantau Island, yesterday (May 14). Red flags were hoisted immediately.

The red tide at Pui O Beach, Lantau Island, still persists while the others have already dissipated. No associated death of fish has been reported in these occurrences 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 Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan, Cheung Sha 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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