Red tide sighted
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A red tide had been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past few days, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (May 18).
The occurrence at Tung Ping Chau reported by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department staff on May 15 dissipated yesterday.
"The red tide was formed by Trichodesmium erythraeum, which seldom occurs in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The department's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.
Ends/Friday, May 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:00
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