A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (December 30).

     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Environmental Protection Department at Junk Bay yesterday.

     The red tide still persists and no associated death of fish has been reported so far.

     "The red tide was formed by Phaeocystis globosa, which is non-toxic and commonly found in Hong Kong waters," a spokesman for the working group said.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Po Toi O, Tung Lung Chau and Po Toi fish culture zones to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.

     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, December 30, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:00

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