These Regulations are formulated in order to protect marine resources, improve the marine environment, prevent pollution damage, maintain ecological balance, safeguard human health and promote sustainable economic and social development.
The Text is divided into 6 Chapters: Chapter I General Provisions; Chapter II Supervision and Management; Chapter III Protection of Marine Ecosystems; Chapter IV Prevention and Control of Pollution; Chapter V Legal Liabilities; Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions.
Competent authorities in charge of the implementation of these Regulations are established in Article 5. The provincial marine administrative department shall be for the preparation of the marine environmental protection planning and key marine area environmental protection plan in the province (art. 8). The provincial and local marine administrative departments shall carry out the regular survey on the marine resources and the environment (art.11). The remaining articles make provision, inter alia, the establishment, management and protection of special marine reserves and the coastal wetlands; ecological compensation for the protected areas; preparation, examination and approval of environmental impact reports for coastal, marine engineering construction projects; implementation of total pollutant discharge amount control in key sea areas; strictly controlling the dumping of wastes into the sea; pollutant discharge fees; supervision and inspection; and offences and liabilities.