Beautiful Bay Initiative bolsters ecological governance

Guided by China's Beautiful Bay Initiative, Zhanjiang is making significant strides in integrated land-sea governance and marine ecological protection.

Guan Hui, director of the Zhanjiang ecology and environment bureau, said the fundamental criteria for a beautiful bay include clean waters and pristine beaches, a thriving ecosystem rich in marine life, and a harmonious balance between human activities and nature, ensuring a high-quality marine environment for the public.

Zhanjiang's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for Marine Ecological Protection designates the Beautiful Bay Initiative as a key priority. The plan divides the city's 1,616.53-kilometer coastline into eight distinct bay zones, further breaking them down into smaller regulatory units to refine governance and management strategies.

The city has already completed the Golden Coast project in Wuchuan and is accelerating the development of Sanji Bay in Leizhou and Wailuo Bay in Xuwen.

In 2021, the Chikan-Xiashan section of Zhanjiang Bay was recognized as an outstanding Beautiful Bay site. Further cementing the city's leadership in marine conservation, Zhanjiang's Jinsha Bay was included in the third batch of national Beautiful Bay cases released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in December 2024 — one of the only three bays in Guangdong to have received that national designation since 2021.

Marine rehabilitation

In recent years, Zhanjiang has been focusing on mangrove restoration, marine ecological rehabilitation and a sustainable land-sea integration model that ensures responsible utilization of resources. Its coastline includes 330.98 km of sandy shores, and in 2024, the city launched multiple public beach-cleaning initiatives.

Mangrove conservation, given its crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and coastal resilience, is likewise a priority. Zhanjiang has the Chinese mainland's largest coastal mangrove coverage, and since 2019, the city has afforested 1,576 hectares and restored 1,126 hectares of it. As the first city in Guangdong to enact local regulations for mangrove wetland protection, Zhanjiang has pioneered a carbon inclusion methodology for mangrove ecosystems, filling a national regulatory gap.

In June 2021, Zhanjiang completed China's first "blue carbon" trading project, signing an agreement to transfer 5,880 metric tons of carbon reduction credits, transforming the ecological benefits of mangroves into monetary value.

Through ongoing comprehensive restoration projects along the Jinsha Bay coastline and coastal wetlands, Zhanjiang is continuously enhancing its landscape, while at the same time improving environmental quality and raising living standards for local residents.

According to Feng Jiachao, an official from the Zhanjiang marine and fisheries bureau, the city is integrating ecological enhancements into its marine conservation initiatives. It has completed 1.8 km of eco-friendly seawall reconstruction on Xinliao Island, Xuwen, and is accelerating construction of a 3-km eco-seawall in Huguang town, Mazhang district.

Notably, Zhanjiang is the first city in China to introduce a market-driven approach to seawall ecological transformation. In 2023, the country's first coastal land-use quota transaction was completed on the Guangdong provincial trading platform when in Tiaofeng town, Leizhou, two villages auctioned 22.8 meters of coastal quota at a rate of 200,000 yuan ($27,510) per meter, generating a total transaction value of 4.56 million yuan. This marked a significant achievement in Guangdong's coastline compensation system, which was introduced in 2017.

"We plan to introduce private capital to support ecological restoration efforts and collaborate with research institutions to drive technological advancements in seawall ecological transformation," Feng said.

Since 2023, over 95 percent of Zhanjiang's nearshore waters have maintained excellent water quality, ranking among the highest in Guangdong. Thanks to its well-preserved marine ecosystem, Leizhou Bay has become a vital habitat for nearly 1,000 Chinese white dolphins, one of the world's rarest marine species.

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn

Zhanjiang boasts a sandy coastline of 330.98 kilometers, a rich resource for the city. CHINA DAILY