Red tide sighted

     A red tide has been sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (September 7).
  
     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Environmental Protection Department on September 4 in the Shing Mun River channel near Sha Tin Park.
   
     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 Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana, which is commonly found in Hong Kong waters and is non-toxic."
  
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) urged mariculturists at Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai (East), Yung Shue Au and Lo Fu Wat 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.