Press Releases

Red tide sighting report
Friday, October 31, 2003

A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters this week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (October 31).

Staff of the Civil Engineering Department observed a red tide at Shing Mun River on October 27. It started dissipating yesterday.

"The red tide was formed by Chattonella marina and another Chattonella species," a spokesman for the working group said. "Chattonella marina is rare in Hong Kong waters while the other Chattonella species had not been sighted in Hong Kong waters before.

"Overseas studies show that these species might contain toxins. In Hong Kong in 2001, red tides formed by Chattonella marina were associated with some minor fish kills at fish culture zones."

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) informed mariculturists in the Yim Tin Tsai fish culture zone of the red tide and urged them to monitor the situation closely. No associated death of fish was reported.

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.