Hong Kong Swamped By Enormous Red Tide - Authorities Close Beaches - Australian

[hatrack]

HUGE blooms of algae turned some of the sea around Hong Kong red today, 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 saying 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,” a department spokesman said. "We will monitor the situation and reduce the possible effect they could have on fish farmers and citizens."

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 per cent of its farmed fish, according to press reports.

EDIT

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21857297-1702,00.html

[rhiannon55]

1. Uh-oh! Wait 'til the xian end-timers hear about this!

In their little brains, red tides=blood in the oceans, as promised in their magic book.:popcorn:

[roamer65]

2. Very true!

I'm sure they're also screaming "Gog and Magog" right now with Russia and China buddying up.:crazy:

[Speck Tater]

3. Look on the bright side! :-)

Algae blooms from many millions of years ago settled to the bottom of the sea and eventually became crude oil. In just a few million more years we'll have more oil! That's good news, right?