Red tide sighted

     A red tide was sighted during the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (May 17).
      
     On May 12, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted a red tide at Shek O Beach, Hong Kong Island. 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 non-toxic."
      
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Lo Tik Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Po Toi 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.