Press Releases

Red tide sighting at Yim Tin Tsai
Friday, July 23, 1999

An inter-departmental red tide working group today (Friday) reported a red tide sighting within Hong Kong waters to keep the public well informed of the latest monitoring situation.

A spokesman for the working group said the red tide was observed at Tolo Harbour between Yim Tin Tsai Fish Culture Zone and Yim Tin Tsai (East) Fish Culture Zone during a routine monitoring operation yesterday.

The algae species is Heterosigma akashiwo and it is non-toxic.

"This species was sighted at a fish culture zone in the past but led to no associated fish kill," he said.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) has alerted all affected mariculturists in the vicinity and they confirmed that fishes behaved normally.

However, the spokesman noted that the species could still have a potential to affect cultured fish through oxygen depletion.

Mariculturists had been reminded to take all necessary precautionary measures and to apply aeration during nighttime.

"AFD will continue monitoring the situation to minimise its impact on the mariculture industry in Hong Kong," he added.

No gazetted beaches are affected by the red tide.

The spokesman said red tide was a natural phenomenon and AFD had already set up a pro-active and comprehensive phytoplankton monitoring system last year.