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A red tide was sighted at Tolo Harbour near Yuen Chau Tsai by a mariculturist yesterday, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (April 1).
It still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported so far.
"The red tide was formed by Heterosigma akashiwo, 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 Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai East, Lo Fu Wat and Yung Shue Au 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, April 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:03
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