Red tide sighted

     A red tide was sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (April 8).

     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Marine Department on April 6 at Junk Bay. The red tide has dissipated and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

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

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Tung Lung Chau fish culture zone 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.