Press Releases

Red tide sighted
Friday, January 15, 2021

A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (January 15).

The red tide was spotted by a mariculturist on January 13 at Three Fathoms Cove, including Yung Shue Au Fish Culture Zone. The red tide still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported.

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

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai (East), Yung Shue Au and Lo Fu Wat fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.

Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.

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