Toxic red tide spreads off China
Date: 17-May-04
Country: CHINA
The tide is caused by plankton reproducing itself in large quantities due to nutrients provided in part by sewage and industrial waste.
The vice-minister at the State Environmental Protection Administration, Pan Yue, warned people about eating fish from the area off Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, Saturday's China Daily said.
"It might cause damage to humans because the red tide contains paralysing toxins," he said.
"The phenomenon, though colourful in appearance, is very dangerous because it can lead to the death of aquatic life and therefore cause damage to the fishing industry."
The red tide first appeared at the beginning of May.
"Due to the fact that the current environment in the sea areas is good for the organisms to survive, the tide will continue for a period of time," the newspaper said.
