China saw 68 red tides in its coastal waters in 2008, resulting in a direct economic loss of 2 million yuan (294,118 U.S. dollars), according to a report released by the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).

The red tides were fewer than the 82 cases in 2007, but they contaminated a total of 13,738 square km of sea area, up 2,128 square km from the previous year.

Pollutants were blamed for the cause of the red tides in which large amounts of algae kill sea life. These algae vary in colour from green to brown, but are mostly red.

While some experts said it was a result of climate change and heavy rain, environmentalists believed the algae blooms were largely due to sewage and agricultural pollutant run-off.

A total of 47 red tides occurred in the East China Sea with a contaminated sea area of 12,070 square km. Twelve occurred in the Yellow Sea, eight in the South China Sea and one in the Bohai Sea.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2009)