Marine Algal Bloom: Characteristics, Causes and Climate Change Impacts by Santosh Kumar Sarkar

Author:Santosh Kumar Sarkar
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Springer Singapore, Singapore

2.4.8 Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the worst HAB-affected areas in the world, with a high diversity of harmful and toxic algal species, especially dinoflagellates. Hong Kong is located in the north-eastern part of the subtropical South China Sea. It is surrounded by sea to the south, east and west. Junk Bay is located on the south of the Kowloon Peninsula, facing Hong Kong Island. In Hong Kong, a record algal bloom, caused by Gymnodinium mikimotoi and Gyrodinium sp. HK’98 (subsequently described as Karenia digitata) occurred in March and April 1998 (Lu and Goebel 2001). Majority of the fishes died in the affected cages, and there was severe economic loss caused by the HAB. Most of the known toxic or harmful algal species are dinoflagellates. Some common dinoflagellate species such as Ceratium furca, Gonyaulax polygramma, Noctiluca scintillans, Heterocap satriquetra, Prorocentrum minimum, Prorocentrum sigmoides and Prorocentrum triestinum frequently bloom in Hong Kong waters. Others, such as Alexandrium catenella, Alexandrium tamarense, Gymnodinium mikimotoi, Gymnodinium cf. breve, Gymnodinium catenatum, Dinophysis caudata, Dinophysis acuminata and Gambierdiscus toxicus, bloom only occasionally, but their toxic effects or potentially toxic and harmful effects are very significant. In 1988, a continuous bloom of Gonyaulax polygramma lasted for three and a half months from early February to May in Tolo Harbour. Red tides and algal blooms refer to the water discolouration caused by such high algal concentrations. Massive fish kills have been caused by oxygen depletion, and the occurrence of red tides at bathing beaches has inconvenienced the general public. Such harmful algal blooms (HABs) have become a serious problem in subtropical Hong Kong waters in the past two decades.

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