Marine Disasters Characteristics and Its Prevention Measures in China over the Past 20 Years

Based on the 1989—2007 data, the marine disasters characteristics and their damage are analyzed according to the 4 kinds of disasters: marine meteorological disaster, marine hydrological disaster, marine geological disaster and marine ecological disaster. the results indicate that the characteristics of marine disaster in China mainly are the broad incidence of storm tide, the severity of damage, the increasing offshore pollution, the red tides, the sea oil spill events and the bigger potential dangers of earthquake and tsunami in Fujian and Taiwan area though they happen infrequently. Suggestions are as follows:(1) strengthening the research on the characteristics of the marine disaster and developing marine disasters forecast system;(2) constructing defence systems in the coastal zone and advancing the standard of disaster prevention;(3) expanding propaganda of disaster prevention and reduction and promoting the development of disaster prevention projects;(4) strengthening the management to reduce man-made marine disasters.