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A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters today (October 12), an inter-departmental red tide working group reported.
Staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department sighted the red tide at Turtle Cove Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island today. It still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported by mariculturists so far.
"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) urged mariculturists at Sok Kwu Wan, Lo Tik Wan and Po Toi 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, October 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:29
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