Recently, the local standard of Shandong Province titled “Technical Specifications for the Control of Red Tides Using Modified Clay” (DB37/T 4753-2024) has been officially released and implemented. This standard is the first specialized technical guideline for red tide management in China, marking a significant step towards the standardization of using modified clay for controlling red tides.
The technology for managing red tides with modified clay is currently the only scalable and field-implemented method in China. Since 2005, this technique has been successfully applied in over 20 bodies of water across the country, from north to south, and has since been promoted internationally to countries such as the United States, Peru, Singapore, and Malaysia. It has earned the reputation of being a “red tide extinguisher” made in China and received the national second-class prize for technological invention.
The newly enacted “Technical Specifications for the Control of Red Tides Using Modified Clay” outlines the technical requirements for the application of modified clay in red tide management. It covers essential areas such as red tide monitoring, material and equipment preparedness, operational procedures, and effect monitoring and assessment, along with corresponding validation methods.
The introduction of this standard will provide scientific guidance and a vital reference for the standardized and regulated application of modified clay technology in the field. It aims to enhance the technique’s reach and influence both domestically and internationally, contributing Chinese wisdom to the prevention and control of ecological disasters in coastal regions worldwide.
Red tides, also known as harmful algal blooms internationally, refer to a harmful ecological phenomenon characterized by the explosive growth or concentration of certain phytoplankton, protozoa, and bacteria in seawater under specific environmental conditions, leading to discoloration of the water body.
(Reporter: Wang Wei, Edited by: Li Runze)
