Press Releases
Red tide sighted
Wednesday, August 5, 2016
A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (August 5).
The red tide was spotted by a mariculturist yesterday (August 4) at Tolo Harbour, including the Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai East and Yung Shue Au fish culture zones.
The red tide still persists but no associated death of fish has been reported so far.
"The red tide was formed by Gonyaulax verior and Heterocapsa pygmaea, which are 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 the Tap Mun, Kau Lau Wan, Sham 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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