A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (March 8).
 
     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at Golden Beach, Tuen Mun, on March 4 and the red flag was hoisted at the beach immediately. The red tide has dissipated and no associated death of fish has been reported.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Mesodinium rubrum, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic."
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Ma Wan fish culture zone to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     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, March 8, 2019
Issued at HKT 15:35

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