China approves marine functional zoning of coastal regions

China has approved marine zonal schemes of eight major coastal regions for the 2011-2020 period in order to effectively protect ecology and environment of the sea.

The approval documents, released by the State Council, or the Cabinet, and published Tuesday sanctioned plans submitted by Shandong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Liaoning and Hebei provinces as well as Tianjin Municipality and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"Marine functional zoning provides a legal basis for effective protection of marine ecology and environment and rational exploitation of marine resources," the documents said.

There is requirement that planning of marine-related industries work in accordance with regional marine functional zoning.

The documents showed planned sea reclamation areas in the eight regions, which have been approved by the State Council. These included 16,100 hectares in south China's Guangxi, and 33,350 hectares and 50,600 hectares in east China's Fujian and Zhejiang, respectively.

It also marked out mariculture, marine conservation and reserved areas and the length of repaired coastlines in the eight regions. This is to ensure reasonable control of marine exploitation and guarantee fishermen's livelihoods and the development of modernized fishery.

It pointed out that maritime regulations should be strengthened and the system of examination and approval for exploitation and sea reclamation should be strictly implemented

The documents also called for improved maritime law enforcement, as well as enhanced social and media supervision.