Introduction to the National Blue Bay Remediation Action Plan in China

ABSTRACT

Ecological degradation has inhibited sustainable development along the coast of China. To counter this, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China has implemented the Blue Bay Remediation Project for bay restoration as one of the strategies to build a strong marine nation by a process of integrated coastal-zone management. With the overall goals of pristine water, a green coast, clean beaches, beautiful bays and islands clearly defined, the restoration of 66 bays will be funded (about USD$48-64 million for each bay), starting with 16 bays in 2016. This project can be described as a milestone for China, as the marine environment has never before attracted such attention. Such a huge remediation project should provide an example for the rest of the world to follow.

Acknowledgements

This research was undertaken by the first author during her Study Abroad Research Practicum visit to UNSW Canberra, supported by the China Scholarship Council. We gratefully acknowledge the English editorial assistance of Dr Peter McIntyre. This is publication number 58 of the Sino-Australian Research Centre for Coastal Management.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Mingqi Wang is a PhD student in Ocean University of China, reaserching on integrated coastal management.

Professor Xiao Hua Wang graduated from Ocean University of China, and holds a PhD in Physical Oceanography from James Cook University in Australia. He is the Director of International Student Recruitment and Exchange (DISRE), Founding Director of the Sino-Australian Research Centre for Coastal Management*, University of New South Wales, Australia, and an associate editor for Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science (IF 2.32) and Limnology and Oceanography: Methods (IF 1.992), respectively. He has over 25 years experience in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. His research concerns modelling of ocean circulation, sediment transport dynamics, and understanding of coastal management issues. He has over 100 publications including peer-reviewed journal papers, book chapters, international conference abstracts and government/technical reports. His work has been funded by a variety sources including the Australia Research Council, the EU Framework, and US Office of Naval Research.

ORCID

Mingqi Wang http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6955-4883

Xiao Hua Wang http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1774-6189

Additional information

Funding

This research was undertaken by the first author during her Study Abroad Research Practicum visit to UNSW Canberra, supported by the China Scholarship Council.