August 07, 2012

The Government today continued its clean up of plastic pellets scattered on beaches, at sea, and in fish culture zones from a container spill during Typhoon Vicente.
 
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has collected 1.4 tonnes of pellets, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department has picked up 4.1kg of pellets from seven beaches, and the Marine Department taken 2.45 tonnes of pellets from local waters.
 
The Government Flying Service has searched for pellets in southern and southwestern waters.
 
Marine Police have reported the presence of pellets on Po Toi and in Sok Kwu Wan, Tung O Wan, and Shek Pai Wan on Lamma Island.
 
The departments will continue to closely monitor the distribution of the pellets.
 
The Centre for Food Safety tested 20 fish samples yesterday and 30 today. No plastic pellets were found.
 
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department received reports from five mariculturists that trace amounts of pellets were found in Ma Wan and Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zones. The pellets have been cleaned up. No abnormal activity or abnormal death of fish has been reported.
 
The department collected five live fish samples from Cheung Sha Wan fish culture zone. One gram and 0.4g of pellets were found in the stomachs of a red drum and a cobia. The public are reminded to wash fish thoroughly and remove the internal organs before cooking. The food safety risk from the pellets is believed to be low.
 
The Centre for Food Safety and the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department will step up the monitoring of fish captured or cultured in Hong Kong waters, and the Government will continue its inter-departmental monitoring operations.