The purpose of this Law is to protect and improve marine environment, protect marine resources, prevent and control pollution damage, maintain ecological balance, protect human health, and promote sustainable development of economy and society. The Law consists of 97 Articles divided into ten Chapters: General Provisions (I); Marine Environmental Supervision and Management (II); Marine Ecological Protection (III); Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment Caused by Land-based Pollutants (IV); Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment Caused by Coastal Construction Projects (V); Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment Caused by Marine Construction Projects (VI); Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment Caused by Dumping of Wastes (VII); Prevention and Control of Pollution Damage to the Marine Environment Caused by Vessels and Their Related Operations (VIII); Legal Liabilities (IX); Supplementary Provisions (X).
The State shall delineate thered lines of ecological protection in key marine ecological function zones, ecological sensitive areas and fragile areas, and other sea areas to conduct strict protection. The State shall also establish and put into practice a system of controlling the total sea-disposal pollution discharge for the key sea areas, determine the standards for controlling the total sea-disposed main pollutants discharge and shall assign controlled pollution discharges to key pollution sources.