2023/02/17
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Press Releases

Red tides sighted
Friday, February 17, 2023

Three red tides have been sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (February 17).

Staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted two red tides on February 13 at Deep Water Bay Beach, Hong Kong Island and Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach. On the same day, staff of the Marine Department spotted another red tide at Rambler Channel near Hoi On Road. All three red tides have dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

A spokesman for the working group said, "All three red tides were formed by Noctiluca scintillans, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic."

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan, Po Toi and Cheung Sha Wan 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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