Marine Eco-Environmental Protection in China

VI. Advancing China's Green and Low-Carbon Maritime Development

China has always been committed to protecting the marine environment, dedicating its efforts to comprehending and managing the vast oceanic expanse. On the basis of ensuring ecological security, it has improved its efficiency in marine resource utilization and developed an eco-friendly marine economy to meet the people's diverse needs of the sea. Through high-level eco-environmental protection, China strives to foster new impetus for and new advantages in its high-quality development.

1. Promoting efficient utilization of marine resources

The ocean provides humanity with a treasure trove of resources that we rely on to survive and develop. So, too, does it provide a foundation to build China into a strong maritime country. China has continued to promote the economical and intensive utilization of marine resources. It coordinates and improves the supply of resources and factors of production from its sea areas, and preserves the ocean's reproductive capacity. In the pursuit of these goals, the country strives to form sound dynamics between high-level resource security and high-quality development.

Promoting the economical and intensive utilization of resources from sea areas. In recent years, China has actively planned for and carried out economical and intensive marine resource utilization, and adopted tailored policies for different resources accordingly.

To assess its marine resources, China has launched a pilot scheme to inventory its marine resource assets, which will form the basis for optimal resource allocation and efficient utilization. It has selected 18 demonstration cities and counties to test pioneering methods and technologies in order to establish benchmarks for the economical and intensive utilization of marine resources that can be replicated and improved upon with practical experience. Additionally, it will encourage various resources and factors of production to better contribute to China's high-quality development.

To effectively utilize sea area resources and transition from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional management approach, China has introduced a multi-rights system for sea areas. Measures have been taken to guarantee the supply of sea areas, address outstanding problems in land reclamation from the past, and regulate sea area utilization across various industries, including optimizing the management of mariculture and determining its scale and layout on a scientific basis. It has also issued specific policies governing the occupation of sea areas by photovoltaic projects, promoting hybrid utilization and three-dimensional development.

Strengthening the sustainable utilization of fishery resources. China is employing scientific assessment in its efforts to balance the conservation and sustainable utilization of its fishery resources in the long run. Since launching its summer fishing moratorium in 1995, China has extended the duration and scope of the ban over the years and exercised effective control over fishing intensity in order to conserve and restore fishery resources and promote the sustainable and healthy development of the fishery industry. Since 2003, China has implemented the aggregate management of marine fishery resources, a fishing licensing system, and dual control over the number and engine power of marine fishing vessels, as well as species-based and region-specific fishing quota management.

2. Laying a solid foundation for green development of the marine economy

China is committed to achieving its targets for peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality. One way in which the country aims to reach these targets is by integrating green and low-carbon concepts into the development of its marine economy. This includes promoting sustainable fishing and the green growth of ports, shipping, and shipbuilding, as well as the sound exploitation and utilization of clean marine energy. China's marine industries have already made positive progress in embracing this green transformation.

Modern ocean ranches. Ocean ranching is an approach to preserving aquatic life resources and restoring the marine eco-environment that has played a pivotal role in the sustainable development of marine fisheries in China.

By 2023, the country had established 169 national demonstration ocean ranches, generating an annual eco-environmental benefit of nearly RMB178.1 billion. The conservation of marine fishery resources led to a five-fold increase in the numbers of large yellow croaker, small yellow croaker, cutlass fish, and cuttlefish in Zhejiang Province in 2019 compared to the late 1990s, and the density of small yellow croaker increased by 34.1 percent.

Mariculture has expanded from offshore to deep-sea areas and high seas. The first item of fully submersible deep-sea fish farming equipment independently developed by China has been put into operation, creating a unique green mode of deep-sea and high-sea fish rearing.

Greener and more intelligent ports, shipping, and shipbuilding. China has intensified its efforts to build smart and green ports with growing clean energy utilization. The Port of Qingdao has established a cutting-edge hybrid energy supply system that integrates wind and solar power with hydrogen production and storage. Clean energy now accounts for 66 percent of the total supply at the port, and its intelligent sky rail logistics system reduces energy consumption by over 50 percent. The introduction of intelligent zero-carbon emission docks at the Port of Tianjin will contribute to carbon neutrality in production and consumption, lowering energy consumption.

China is also active in the construction of three green shipping corridors – connecting the Port of Shanghai with the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Guangzhou with the Port of Los Angeles, and the Port of Tianjin with the Port of Singapore. These corridors will accelerate the decarbonization of the shipping industry.

Additionally, China is making significant progress in the adoption of green ships and new energy vessels. Its first methanol dual-fueled ship can reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent,nitrogen emissions by 15 percent, and sulfur and particulate matter emissions by 99 percent. Its 700-TEU fully-electric container vessel reduces the same amount of carbon emissions as 160,000 trees can do in a year.

Booming clean marine energy. China's usage of clean marine energy continues to increase in both scope and share. By the end of 2023, the country's installed capacity of offshore wind power had reached 37.69 million kW, accounting for about half the global total capacity and solidifying its position as the global leader for the fourth consecutive year.

Renewable marine power is growing rapidly. The megawatt-class Fenjin marine current turbine generates green power that is fed into the State Grid; the Nankun, China's first independently developed deep-sea megawatt-class wave power generation platform, provides clean electricity to remote islands; and the Penghu deep-sea fish rearing platform can meet its own electricity needs using clean energy from wave and solar energy converters and energy storage devices.

3. Exploring methods for realizing the values of ecosystem goods and services

Blue seas and clean beaches, like clear waters and green mountains, are invaluable assets. China has been working to develop new systems for marine carbon sink, stimulate the business management and development of marine ecosystem goods and services, and explore mechanisms to realize their values.

Planning a compensation system for offshore eco-environmental protection. China has established a system that guides those who benefit from marine ecosystems in fulfilling their compensation obligations and motivates those involved in the protection of the marine eco-environment to perform their jobs to the highest level. By implementing this system, a positive relationship has been fostered between the two groups, ultimately promoting sustainable development of the marine economy.

The Opinions on Furthering the Reform of the Eco-Environmental Protection Compensation System, issued in 2021, stipulates the task of establishing a compensation system for offshore protection. Hainan Province, Hebei Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Lianyungang City in Jiangsu Province, and Xiamen City in Fujian Province have all tailored marine compensation policies to their specific local conditions and acted on these, with positive responses.

Developing new systems for marine carbon sink. Marine carbon sink will significantly contribute to the realization of China's targets for peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality. The country has developed an action plan for blue carbon sink and has set technical standards for blue carbon surveying and monitoring. Pilot schemes have been launched to survey carbon stock and quantify carbon sinks in blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. Monitoring of sea-air carbon dioxide flux and greenhouse gas emissions reduction on oil and gas platforms is also under way.

China has published the Measures for the Administration of Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading (Trial) and the Methodology of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Voluntary Reduction Project: Mangrove Vegetation Creation (CCER-14-002-V01), and supported marine carbon sink projects in joining the China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) trading market. Innovative initiatives such as incentive carbon trading, carbon sink insurance, and carbon sink mortgages, have been piloted in multiple provincial-level administrative regions, including Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan.

Encouraging the business management and development of marine ecosystem goods and services. In 2021, China issued the Opinions on Establishing and Improving the Mechanism for Realizing the Values of Ecosystem Goods and Services and made comprehensive arrangements for its implementation. The Criteria for Crediting the Overall Values of Ecosystem Goods and Services (Trial) was published and came into effect alongside the Typical Cases for Realizing the Values of Ecosystem Goods and Services, providing the theoretical and technical underpinning for realizing the values of marine ecosystem goods and services.

Governments in coastal areas have actively sought innovation in their policies and mechanisms. In Dongtou District of Wenzhou City in Zhejiang Province, a creative model based on the government awarding funds and local budget funds was introduced to attract private capital to participate in the Blue Bay Restoration Project and the Ocean Garden Initiative. The China Oceanic Development Foundation established the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's first eco-environmental special fund, designed to support the construction of the marine industrial parks, eco-parks, and marine engineering centers in the area and to facilitate technological innovation and industrial development of marine ecosystem goods and services.

Continuing to improve compensation for marine eco-environmental damage. China attaches great importance to compensation for marine eco-environmental damage, and defined a clear framework for its implementation in the 1999 amendment to the Marine Environmental Protection Law. Subsequently, the country promulgated the Measures of National Claims for Marine Ecological Damages and the Regulations on Several Issues in the Adjudication of Disputes Concerning Claims for Marine Ecological and Resource Damages to provide further practical guidance, leading to improved results in this area. In 2023, another amendment was made to the Marine Environmental Protection Law to further improve this system.

4. Launching a nationwide green and low-carbon campaign

China has developed a variety of education and scientific outreach initiatives aimed at promoting marine culture. These programs are designed to strengthen public awareness regarding environmental and ecological preservation, advocating for simple, moderate, and healthy lifestyles that prioritize green living and low-carbon practices. They encourage people to voluntarily participate in China's green development, fostering a sense of care, protection, and personal engagement with the sea among the public.

Building public awareness of marine eco-environmental conservation. China hosts yearly themed activities celebrating World Oceans Day (also China's National Ocean Awareness Day), Earth Day, World Environment Day, and World Wetlands Day. More than 160 ocean awareness promotion centers have been established across the country to foster public interest in ocean conservation.

A number of celebrations centered around the sea have become significant exhibition platforms for China's marine culture, including the Zhoushan Islands – China Ocean Culture Festival, the China (Xiangshan) Fishing Season Opening Festival, and renowned conferences and forums like the China Marine Economy Expo and the World Ocean Week in Xiamen. The National Maritime Museum of China, hailed as the “Forbidden City on the Sea”, has opened to the public, providing an important space for people to learn about oceanic civilization and marine resources, and to reshape their values towards the ocean.

Furthermore, the National Marine Knowledge Competition has been held for the past 14 years, attracting six million participants from the public and students from over a thousand universities and colleges. The result of these efforts has been a significant increase in public interest and understanding of the ocean, and in the public's sense of duty, responsibility, and pride regarding the governance and utilization of the sea.

Encouraging public engagement in marine eco-environmental conservation. Eco-environmental awareness is championed throughout Chinese society, and every member of society is encouraged to spread environmental awareness and be an active practitioner. In 2019, the Blue Citizen concept was introduced, along with various projects and activities to encourage residents to play a role in preserving the beauty and cleanliness of the sea, fostering a generation of “blue citizens”. Since 2017 and for seven years in a row, China has hosted the National Beach Cleanup and the Beautiful Oceans activities – two unique events that look to unite the collective efforts of all people across the country as they care for and protect the sea.

In Xiamen City, Fujian Province, chiefs of Lake Yundang are selected from the public, as a way of soliciting public opinions and suggestions regarding marine eco-environmental protection. In Hainan Province, a “garbage bank” has been established to encourage tourists to actively engage in beach cleanups, fostering a positive atmosphere through various activities that involve everyone in the conservation efforts.

Promoting a green lifestyle. It is the responsibility of every individual to preserve the marine eco-environment. A number of initiatives have been introduced to encourage voluntary public action in maintaining the wellbeing of the oceans. These include practicing responsible tourism, refraining from purchasing endangered marine life products, avoiding disturbance to marine creatures, and not throwing plastic waste in the sea. Additionally, more and more people are reducing their consumption of plastic bottles, bags, and meal kits by opting for reusable alternatives, thereby decreasing plastic waste from the source. They are taking action to lead a green, low-carbon, and circular lifestyle.