Shandong to set up marine economy projects

Shandong province plans to set up 100 marine economy projects and 30 pilot zones by the end of 2015 to boost the province's economic development, according to a statement released by the State Oceanic Administration on Wednesday.

Recycling is an effective way to balance the booming marine economy and the fragile marine environmental protection, the statement said.

The projects will use marine resources such as wind power, seawater and tides in a sustainable way.

The statement said that Shandong authorities will strengthen policy and financial support for R&D projects and will train experts in the field.

In 2011, the total output of the country's marine economy was more than 4.5 trillion yuan ($720 billion), up 10.4 percent year-on-year, and accounting for about 10 percent of the country's economy.