A dark red tide has grown rapidly on the coast in northern Zhejiang Province in the past two days, Zhejiang Provincial Marine and Fishery Bureau declared Thursday.

The red tide covered about 4,000 square kilometers on Monday in Zhoushan, a city in northern Zhejiang, but extended to 7,000 square kilometers on Wednesday.

Large red tides also showed up at near Wenzhou, a city in southern Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday. It covers about 340 square kilometers and continues to grow.

Preliminary investigations shows the red tide was caused by a kind of poisonous algae, which might poison seashell life.

The provincial relevant departments have suspended seashell fishery in areas affected by red tide, and those raising fishes and seashells are asked to take emergency measures to guard against the red tide, said Li Dongyong, deputy-director of Zhejiang Provincial Marine and Fishery Bureau.

The red tide is expected to continue for a few days since recent weather is favorable for the growth of the algae.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2005)