China announces nine new state-level marine parks

BEIJING - The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) has announced nine new state-level marine parks, bringing the total number of such parks in China to 42.

The new parks are located in the provinces of Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan, according to an SOA circular.

The SOA has ordered local marine authorities in these provinces to start demarcating the parks, and not to arbitrarily adjust or change the parks' boundaries and zoning.

The SOA has stressed the need to improve protection of the marine environment when tourism and aquaculture activities are conducted in certain zones of the parks.

China's state-level marine parks, first introduced in 2011, offer public space for coastal recreation, enhance protection of marine ecosystems and boost sustainable development of coastal tourism, an SOA official said.