****************
A red tide was sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (August 10).
Staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) sighted the red tide at Mirs Bay and Tung Ping Chau Marine Park on August 6. The red tide dissipated yesterday (August 9). No associated death of fish has been reported by mariculturists so far.
"The red tide was formed by Scrippsiella trochoidea, which is common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic," a spokesman for the working group said.
The AFCD urged mariculturists at Sha Tau Kok, Ap Chau, Kat O, O Pui Tong, Sai Lau Kong, Tap Mun, Kau Lau Wan and Sham 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, August 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:01
NNNN