162
J. Wang
the National Development and Reform Commission and the SOA in 2017 provides
a general framework for marine ecological civilization.
78 The basic principle of
marine ecological progress is giving priority to conservation and natural recovery.
The specific measures, which shall be taken to strengthen marine environmental
protection, include: to establish marine ecological red line (MERL) system; to implement the coastal shelter forest system construction project; to speed up the construction of marine protected areas; to strengthen ecological protection and restoration
of coastal zones and to improve the marine ecological environment compensation
system.
79 These basic principles were further elaborated in the National Plan for
Marine Ecological and Environmental Protection (2017–2020), which was issued
by the SOA in 2018.
80 This Plan aims to develop a more centralized and integrated
system of marine environment protection, and completement of drawing MERL,
development of network of MPA, conservation of marine biodiversity and protection
of islands and reefs are identified as the primary tasks.
With the developments and adjustments of China’s overall ocean policy, the policy
of marine environmental protection has been dramatically improved. The latest ocean
policy is affected by the idea of ecological civilization, and the development of MERL
and MPA place emphasis on the connections between marine economic development
with marine environmental protection,
81 which reflects that the policy has shifted
from fragmentation to a more comprehensive and systematic management scheme.
In order to implement the ocean policy as well as address the marine environmental
challenges, China promulgated a number of laws and regulations in regard to marine
environmental protection, which are broad in coverage to regulate all the human activities relevant to the sea. China’s legal framework on marine environmental protection
will be considered in turn below.
78 Marine Ecological Progress is an important part of the China’s 13th National Five-year Plan for
Marine Economic Development. In the chapter setting out the overall objectives, it is provided
that ‘by 2020, remarkable achievements have been made in the construction of marine ecological
civilization, with the rate of natural shoreline retention is not <35 and 70% of coastal waters meet
the water quality standard–Class I and II.’
79 The 13th National Five-year Plan for Marine Economic Development (2016–2020).
80 ‘Director of the State Oceanic Administration elaborated the National Marine Ecological and
Environmental Protection Plan (2017–2020)’ available at www.soa.gov.cn/zwgk/zcjd/201802/t20
180213_60387.html; accessed 26 August 2019.
81 MERLand MPA are different means of spatial planning, which might restrict or prohibit commercial activities due to consideration of marine environment protection. Taking the MERL as an
example, the local governments are required to draw the MERLs, and the MERL zones are
divided into prohibited and restricted development zones respectively according to ecological
characteristics, in which different measures are applied.
J. Wang
the National Development and Reform Commission and the SOA in 2017 provides
a general framework for marine ecological civilization.
78 The basic principle of
marine ecological progress is giving priority to conservation and natural recovery.
The specific measures, which shall be taken to strengthen marine environmental
protection, include: to establish marine ecological red line (MERL) system; to implement the coastal shelter forest system construction project; to speed up the construction of marine protected areas; to strengthen ecological protection and restoration
of coastal zones and to improve the marine ecological environment compensation
system.
79 These basic principles were further elaborated in the National Plan for
Marine Ecological and Environmental Protection (2017–2020), which was issued
by the SOA in 2018.
80 This Plan aims to develop a more centralized and integrated
system of marine environment protection, and completement of drawing MERL,
development of network of MPA, conservation of marine biodiversity and protection
of islands and reefs are identified as the primary tasks.
With the developments and adjustments of China’s overall ocean policy, the policy
of marine environmental protection has been dramatically improved. The latest ocean
policy is affected by the idea of ecological civilization, and the development of MERL
and MPA place emphasis on the connections between marine economic development
with marine environmental protection,
81 which reflects that the policy has shifted
from fragmentation to a more comprehensive and systematic management scheme.
In order to implement the ocean policy as well as address the marine environmental
challenges, China promulgated a number of laws and regulations in regard to marine
environmental protection, which are broad in coverage to regulate all the human activities relevant to the sea. China’s legal framework on marine environmental protection
will be considered in turn below.
78 Marine Ecological Progress is an important part of the China’s 13th National Five-year Plan for
Marine Economic Development. In the chapter setting out the overall objectives, it is provided
that ‘by 2020, remarkable achievements have been made in the construction of marine ecological
civilization, with the rate of natural shoreline retention is not <35 and 70% of coastal waters meet
the water quality standard–Class I and II.’
79 The 13th National Five-year Plan for Marine Economic Development (2016–2020).
80 ‘Director of the State Oceanic Administration elaborated the National Marine Ecological and
Environmental Protection Plan (2017–2020)’ available at www.soa.gov.cn/zwgk/zcjd/201802/t20
180213_60387.html; accessed 26 August 2019.
81 MERLand MPA are different means of spatial planning, which might restrict or prohibit commercial activities due to consideration of marine environment protection. Taking the MERL as an
example, the local governments are required to draw the MERLs, and the MERL zones are
divided into prohibited and restricted development zones respectively according to ecological
characteristics, in which different measures are applied.