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A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters today (August 3), an inter-departmental red tide working group reported.
Staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) sighted the red tide at Tolo Harbour, including the Yim Tin Tsai and Yim Tin Tsai (East) Fish Culture Zones. It still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported by mariculturists so far.
"The red tide was formed by Scrippsiella trochoidea, which is common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.
The AFCD urged mariculturists at Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai (East), Yung Shue Au and Lo Fu Wat 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, August 3, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:15
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