China's marine economy expands with improved quality

BEIJING -- China's marine economy logged sound development in 2021, enlarging its scale and optimizing its structure, the National Marine Data and Information Service said on Thursday.

Last year, the country's gross marine product exceeded 9 trillion yuan ($ 1.26 trillion), up 8.3 percent year-on-year, according to a report released by the NMDIS.

The per capita net income of the country's ocean fishermen and women in 2021 was 1.5 times the 2015 figure, the report said.

Emerging marine industries have gained strong momentum in recent years, with the added value of these industries soaring 100 percent in 2021 from the 2015 level.

The report also noted that China's ocean tourism market recovered as strong demand for local leisure and short-distance trips to coastal areas grew rapidly in the consumer market.

In 2021, the ocean park area per 10,000 people increased 0.7 hectares from 2015, providing people with easier access to the sea.