Press Releases
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Red tide sighting in Sai Kung 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 red tide was observed at the sea area between Clear Water Bay Marina and Fat Tong Kok, Kau Sai Fish Culture Zone and Tai Long Wan yesterday by staff of the Marine Department and mariculturists. The red tide is formed by Mesodinium rubrum and it is non-toxic. "The species has been sighted in Hong Kong waters before but led to no associated fish kill," the spokesman said. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) has alerted all mariculturists in the vicinity and they confirmed that fishes in the fish culture zones are normal. However, the spokesman noted that the red tide could still have a potential to affect cultured fish through oxygen depletion. Mariculturists had been reminded to take all essential precautionary measures and to apply aeration during nighttime if necessary. "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 to monitor red tide occurrence in Hong Kong. |
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