A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (July 7).

     The red tide was reported by staff of the Marine Department at Junk Bay to Tathong Channel (including Tung Lung Chau fish culture zone) on July 2.

     The red tide still persists but no associated death of fish has been reported.

     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic."

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Po Toi, Tung Lung Chau and Po Toi O 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, July 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:01

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