Marine pollution has posed a grave challenge to China over the
past year, said State Oceanic Administration (SOA) spokesman Li
Chunxian on Sunday in Beijing.
"The coastal marine ecosystem is worsening, the quality of ocean
water is deteriorating and large amounts of pollutants are
infiltrating from land to the sea." Li was speaking in connection
with the SOA's release of a report on marine conditions and
accidents in 2004.
A total of 169,000 square kilometers failed to reach the
standard of clean water, an increase of 27,000 square kilometers,
or 16.0 percent, from the previous year.
The most heavily polluted areas were concentrated along the
coastline, including Bohai Bay and the mouth of the Yangtze
River.
Pollution levels increased most significantly in the Bohai Sea,
which lies off China's northeast coast, one of the country's most
populous and developed areas. An area of 27,000 square kilometers,
accounting for 35 percent of its waters, failed to reach clean
water standards.
Discharge of land waste through ocean dumping is the major cause
of ocean pollution, with 80 percent of sea areas near effluent
outlets reported as heavily polluted.
Pollution has affected aquatic products, many of which are
harvested in offshore waters, and has caused the closure of beaches
and limited the recreational and aesthetic value of the sea.
"Pollution has undermined the multiple functions of the sea,"
said Li.
In 2004, major pollutants carried by the major rivers into the
sea weighed 11.5 million tons.
Li said land-generated waste and over-exploitation of resources
had worsened the ecosystem.
The SOA's report on marine accidents was somewhat less gloomy,
with economic losses being contained to 5.4 billion yuan (US$653
million) despite major storms, typhoons, red tides, tidal waves and
oil spills. Such events claimed the lives of 140 people.
"Typhoons and storms were the major marine catastrophes for
China in the past year. They caused 5.2 billion yuan (US$628
million) of direct economic loss and killed 49 people," said
Li.
Red tides occurred 96 times last year -- 19 percent fewer than
the previous year -- and were more often found in the East China
Sea and Bohai Sea. More than 20 were toxic.
Li said that the toxic red tides did not affect human beings or
the aquatic breeding industry owing to rapid emergency measures
taken by marine authorities.
Several departments have cooperated to establish a basic marine
environment and disaster observation network and an early warning
system covering both offshore areas and deep waters.
(China Daily January 10, 2005)