Red tide sighted

     A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (June 1).
 
     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department today at Silver Mine Bay Beach, Lantau Island.
 
     The red tide still persists. No associated death of fish has been reported.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Takayama tuberculata, which is not commonly found in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic."
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Ma Wan and Cheung Sha 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 monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.