Press Releases

Red tide sighting
Friday, July 23, 2004

A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters last week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (July 23).

Staff of the Environmental Protection Department observed a red tide from Sham Tseng to Ma Wan on July 15. The red tide dissipated the following day.

"The red tide is formed by Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii. This is common in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.

"The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has informed mariculturists at Ma Wan fish culture zones of the red tide and urged them to monitor the situation closely," he said.

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