RED ALGAE. Huge algal blooms such as this are turning Hong Kong's sea red.

Published: Tuesday June 5, 2007
Huge blooms of algae turned some of the sea around Hong Kong red on Tuesday, forcing the authorities to shut beaches and warn against swimming.
The red tides led to the closure of 11 beaches, government officials said, while local press reports claimed the blooms were the biggest since 1998.
The tides were formed by a rare but non-toxic species of algae, a spokesman for the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department said.
"Red tides are natural phenomena. We will monitor the situation and reduce the possible effect they could have on fish farmers and citizens," a department spokesman said.
Most red tides are harmless, but a few toxic algae species can kill fish, contaminate seafood and even sicken humans.
The algal bloom in 1998, one of the worst in the southern Chinese territory's history, killed 90 percent of its farmed fish, according to press reports.
Further tests were being conducted on water samples taken from beaches Tuesday and fish farmers had been alerted to the situation, the spokesman said.
No reports of dead fish in affected areas have emerged yet.
Red tides occur 20-30 times annually in Hong Kong, but harmful blooms are uncommon, according to the department's website.