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A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters yesterday, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (February 15).
Staff of the Environmental Protection Department sighted the red tide at the entrance of the Tuen Mun River Channel yesterday and it still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported by mariculturists so far.
"The red tide was formed by Heterosigma akashiwo, 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 Ma Wan Fish Culture Zone 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, February 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:01
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