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A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past few days, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (March 7).
The occurrence at Deep Bay (from Lau Fau Shan to Nim Wan) was reported by staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) on March 5. The red tide still persists. No fish kill has been reported.
¡°The red tide was formed by Skeletonema costatum, which is common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic,¡± a spokesman for the working group said.
Red tide is a natural phenomenon. 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 7, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:31
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