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A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (December 5).
The occurrence at Deep Water Bay was reported by staff of Ocean Park on December 3 and dissipated yesterday. No fish kill has been reported.
"The red tide was formed by Mesodinium rubrum which is common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan and Sok Kwu Wan Fish Culture Zones to monitor the situation closely.
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 and the public.
Ends/Friday, December 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:31
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