China opened a training and awareness center on marine biodiversity protection in southeast coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian Province on Wednesday.

The move will help curb the decline in the varieties and numbers of marine life in the country, said Chen Lianzeng, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration.

The center will focus on managing marine life diversity in coastal areas along southern China following a program launched by the United Nations Development Program.

"The center will help spread advanced models of foreign countries in protecting marine life and raise the protection awareness of the nation's governments and people," said Chen.

With 30 sea reserves now under state protection and a further 60 under local government protection, all endangered marine life is now under surveillance.

China became a signatory member of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2006)