****************
A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (November 18).
Leisure and Cultural Services Department staff observed the red tide at Silver Mine Bay Beach on November 12. A red flag was hoisted immediately. The red tide still persists and no associated death of fish has been reported so far.
"The red tide was formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which seldom occurs in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) 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, November 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:18
NNNN
