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A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past few days, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (April 9).
Leisure and Cultural Services Department staff observed a red tide at Silver Mine Bay Beach on April 4. A red flag was hoisted at the beach until yesterday when the red tide dissipated. No associated death of fish was reported.
"The red tide was formed by Noctiluca scintillans, 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 Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan 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, April 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:51
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