China’s desire to pursue ambitious mariculture plans is bumping up against a new government effort to clean up coastal waters.
A new series of “redline” zones where various forms of industry are forbidden includes much of the Bohai Gulf region around Shandong Province – including key seafood production hubs like Qingdao and Yantai.
The redline zones, listed in a five-year plan running from 2016 to 2020, are the latest evidence China is taking significant steps to address chronic pollution of its coastal waters. But it’s not clear if aquaculture and mariculture operations are included in the list of activities prohibited in the new redline zones.
Between 12 and 17 percent of coastal waters are “severely polluted,” according to the 2016 report of the China Environmental Quality State Oceanic Administration. Government representatives have said they want 70 percent of coastal waters categorized “good” by 2017, compared to 50 percent of waters that held that classification in 2004.
China’s aquaculture sector is centered on the country’s east coast, which is also home to key manufacturing belts. It remains to be seen how China will be able shut down polluting industries given local official protectionism.
