Press Releases

Red tides sighted
Friday, April 19, 2024

Two red tides have been sighted over the past week, the Inter-departmental Red Tide Working Group reported today (April 19).

On April 18, staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department spotted two red tides at Deep Water Bay Beach and Repulse Bay Beach on Hong Kong Island. The red tides still persist and no associated fish deaths have been reported as of today.

A spokesman for the working group said, "Both red tides were 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 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.

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