Press Releases

Red tide sighting report
Friday, June 13, 2003

A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (June 13).

A member of the public observed the red tide at Tolo Harbour near Ma Liu Shui on June 6, a spokesman for the working group said. It had dissipated on June 9.

"The red tide was formed by Karenia mikimotoi. The species has been recorded in Hong Kong waters before. The red tides caused by this species had been associated with fish kills in Hong Kong in 1980's and in other places but no fish kill was recorded during the incidents in recent years.

"Laboratory test also indicated that Karenia mikimotoi found in Hong Kong recently has no observable harmful effect on fish.

"The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) had informed mariculturists in the Yim Tin Tsai and Yung Shue Au fish culture zones on the occurrence of the red tide and urged them to monitor the situation closely. No associated death of fish was reported," the spokesman said.

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