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A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters today (May 7), an inter-departmental red tide working group reported.
Leisure and Cultural Services Department staff observed a red tide at Castle Peak Beach and a red flag was hoisted immediately. The red tide still persists. No associated death of fish was reported in the occurence.
"The red tide was formed by Mesodinium rubrum, which is common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has urged mariculturists at Ma 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 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:21
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