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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 (October 19).
Staff of the Environmental Protection Department sighted the red tide at Tuen Mun's Nim Wan near Tai Shui Hang on October 16. It still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported by mariculturists so far.
"The red tide was formed by Protopolykrikos distortus, which is non-toxic and seldom blooms in Hong Kong waters," 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, October 19, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:00
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