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A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (January 4).
Staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department saw a red tide at Deep Water Bay Beach today. A red flag has been hoisted at the beach and the red tide still persists. No fish kill has been reported.
"The red tide was formed by Phaeocystis globosa which is seldom found in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Po Toi fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The department's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.
Ends/Friday, January 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:20
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