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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 (May 18).
The red tide was sighted by Marine Department staff at Sham Tseng Public Pier on May 14 and still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported by mariculturists so far.
"The red tide was formed by Thalassiosira pseudonana, 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 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, May 18, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:01
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