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A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (January 17).
The red tide was reported by a member of the public at Inner Port Shelter near Tai Mong Tsai on January 15.
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 is non-toxic and seldom found in Hong Kong waters," a spokesman for the working group said.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Kau Sai, Ma Nam Wat, Kai Lung Wan, Tai Tau Chau, Leung Shuen Wan and Tiu Cham Wan fish culture zones 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, January 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:02
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