Statistics

China's gross marine product value approaches 4t yuan in 2010

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-30 11:17

BEIJING - The gross product value generated by China's marine industry exceeded 3.84 trillion yuan ($590 billion) last year, up by 12.8 percent from 2009, according to an annual report released Friday.

In the next five years, the annual growth rate of China's emerging marine industry is expected to be around 20 percent, said the 2011 China Ocean Development Report, which was released by China's State Oceanic Administration.

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However, the report said pollution and environmental degradation in China's waters have created a "grave situation" for environmental security.

Multiple pollutants in the country's waters are posing a threat to the environment, food safety and the country's economic and social development, the report said. Land-sourced pollutants are some of the biggest culprits, according to the report.

Waters near large coastal cities and other highly-developed areas are suffering the most serious effects from pollution, a fact that has affected the development of China's coastal economies, the report said.

In addition, massive sea reclamation projects overfishing and sea farming have harmed China's marine ecosystem, causing decreases in biodiversity, the report said.

The report urged more environmental protection efforts, as well as the creation of a comprehensive marine ecosystem management system.