Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday voted to adopt a revised Marine Environment Protection Law, at a session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The revised law, set to take effect on January 1, 2024, highlights prioritizing protection and tackling problems at their source, as well as coordinating activities on land and at sea to protect the ocean environment.

The revised law specifies the responsibilities of local governments in coastal areas for the quality of the marine environment under their administration and the implementation of an evaluation and appraisal system for marine environmental protection.

It also underscores the protection of marine biodiversity, with improved provisions on enhancing its surveying and assessing system, as well as on maintaining and restoring important marine ecological corridors.

For the introduction of alien marine species, scientific support is required to avoid causing harm to marine ecosystems.

With a focus on pressing issues faced by the marine environment, the law also stresses strict control over pollution.

It is prohibited to establish new industrial sewage or urban sewage outfalls in protected areas, including natural protected areas, important fishery waters, and beaches.

Also, activities such as the dumping, stacking and disposal of solid waste on the shore are prohibited and measures are required to be taken to prevent solid waste from entering the sea.

The public is encouraged to participate in litter prevention and control activities.

As a comprehensive law in the field of marine environment conservation, China's current Marine Environment Protection Law was enacted in 1982 and underwent several revisions.

After years of marine protection efforts, the proportion of China's coastal waters with good water quality increased significantly from 63.7 percent in 2012 to 81.9 percent in 2022. 

(With input from Xinhua)

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