Press Releases

Five red tides have been sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (July 22).
      
Staff of the Environmental Protection Department spotted the first red tide at Tathong Channel including Tung Lung Chau fish culture zone and Junk Bay yesterday (July 21), and spotted two other red tides at Victoria Harbour and at East Lamma Channel to Sulphur Channel today. Furthermore, a member of the public and a staff member of the Marine Department today spotted two red tides at Deep Water Bay and at Clear Water Bay to Lung Ha Wan respectively. All five red tides still persist and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.
      
A spokesman for the working group said, "All five red tides were formed by Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha, which is not common in Hong Kong waters. According to literature overseas, the algal species might produce toxin. However, no such reports have been recorded in Hong Kong so far."
      
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan, Po Toi, Po Toi O and Tung Lung Chau 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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