Coastal zone development, utilization, legislation, and management in China

China is a coastal state with 18,000 kilometers of continental shoreline and 14,000 kilometers of island shoreline, with over 5,000 islands. It has one of the longest national shorelines in the world. The coastal zone in China spans three climate zones—tropical, subtropical, and temperate—and the coast is classified as rocky, sandy and gravel, silty and muddy, coral reef, and mangrove. From an administrative standpoint, the coastal zone is situated in nine provinces, an autonomous region, and two municipalities. Although it occupies only about 15 percent of the country's area, it holds about 44 percent of the population. The coastal economy is relatively more developed than in other areas. China has given priority to the development and management of the coastal zone with a three‐stage project. The first stage is comprehensive investigation to formulate a long‐term program for development and utilization in the coastal area. The second stage is investigation at selected locations for development measures to improve reclaimed salty soil, strengthen marine fishing measures, develop seawater culture, establish a forest protection system, prevent coastal erosion, regulate the transport routes, and establish natural resources and environmental protection areas. The third stage is to draft legislation and management measures for the coastal zone. Tentative national management regulations on the coastal zone in Jiangsu Province have already been adopted.