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A red tide has been sighted in Hong Kong waters over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (January 21).
Environment Protection Department staff observed the red tide at Shing Mun River in Sha Tin on January 14. It dissipated on January 18. No associated death of fish was reported.
"The red tide was caused by Chaetoceros socialis, which is non-toxic and seldom forms red tide in Hong Kong waters," a spokesman for the working group said.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has urged mariculturists at Yim Tin Tsai, Yim Tin Tsai (East), Yung Shue Au and Lo Fu Wat to monitor the situation closely.
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.
Ends/Friday, January 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:41
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