Red tide sighted

     A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (December 31).

     The red tide was spotted by a mariculturist on December 24 at Inner Port Shelter. The red tide has dissipated. No associated death of fish has been reported.

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

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at the Ma Nam Wat, Kau Sai, Kai Lung Wan, Tai Tau Chau and Leung Shuen Wan 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 to monitor red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.