Since the 1980s, there has been an increase in the number and area of MPAs in China. MPAs cover some 3.93 million hectares of coastal and marine areas, or some 1.19 % of the total marine area under China’s jurisdiction [1]. 

Various sensitive coastal habitats such as wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs, as well as rare and endangered species such as migratory birds and marine mammals have been protected through MPAs in China. Given that the country has lost 50% of its coastal wetlands, 70% of mangroves and 80% of coral reefs since 1950s, it is a correct response to rescue the remaining coastal habitats and ecosystems from further destruction through MPAs [1]. 

According to Qiu et al 2009,  the MPA system in China is characterized by (1) decentralised designation and management with reduced control from the central government; (2) a dominance of de jure fully protected MPAs that are often implemented as de facto multiple-use areas; and (3) a lack of objective evaluation processes. To improve China’s MPA system requires an appropriate integration of fully protected and multiple-use MPAs, and an approach that balances the advantages of top-down and bottom-up approaches [2].

Learn more!

[1] States Oceanic Administratiom, People's Republic of China: http://earw.icriforum.org/2010/11.China_(Wentao_Niu).pdf

[2] Qiu et al 2009: http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfwpej/pdf/MPAsChinaMarinePolicyPaperCopy.pdf

58 MPAs:

BinZhouBeiKeTiDao and Wetlands National Nature Reserve National Nature Reserve (国家级自然保护区)
CangLiHuangJinHaiAn National Nature Reserve National Nature Reserve (国家级自然保护区)
ChangDao ChangShanWei DiZhiYiJi Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋特别保护区)
ChangYi National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋生态特别保护区)
DanDongYaLvJiangKouBingHai Wetlands National Nature Reserve National Nature Reserve (国家级自然保护区)
DongYingHuangHeKoShengTai National Marine Protected Area i National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
DongYingLaiZhouWanChengLeiShengTai National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
Guangdong Hailing Island National Ocean Park National Ocean Park (国家级海洋公园)
Guangdong Nanpeng Archipelago Wetlands Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
Guangdong Techeng Island National Ocean Park National Ocean Park (国家级海洋公园)
Guangxi Maozhou Sea National Marine Park National Marine Park (国家级海洋公园)
HaiYang QianLiYan Island Marine Ecosystem Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级海洋自然保护区)
Huidong Harbor Sea Turtle National Nature Reserve Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
JiangMen Provincial Nature Reserve (豚省级自然保护区)
JiangSu Lianyungang Haizhou Bay National Ocean Park National Ocean Park (国家级海洋公园)
JiaoNanLingShan Island Provincial Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级自然保护区)
JiaoZhouWan BinHai Wetlands Provincial Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋特别保护区)
LiaoNing JinZhou DaBiJiaShan National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
LiJinDiQiYuLeiShengTai National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
Lingaoshanhujiao (Nature Reserve)
Liugongdao National Ocean Park National Ocean Park (国家级海洋公园)
LiYaShan MuliJiao Marine Protected Area Marine Protected Area (海洋特别保护区)
LongKou YiDao Provincial nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级自然保护区)
MianJiang River Mouth Wetlands Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级自然保护区)
MiaoDao Islands Sea Leopard Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级海洋自然保护区)
Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase I) World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)
NanPeng Islands Marine Ecosystem Marine Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级自然保护区)
PuTuoZhongJieShanLieDao National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级i海洋特别保护区)
QingDao City WenChang Aquatic Wildlife Provincial Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (市级自然保护区)
QingDao DaGongDao Island and Ecosystem Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级海洋自然保护区)
RiZhao City DaZhuCheng - XiSheShe Ecosystem Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋特别保护区)
Rizhao National Ocean Park National Ocean Park (家级海洋公园)
RuiAnShi TongPan Island Provincial Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋特别保护区)
ShanDongDongYingGuangRaoShaCanLeiShengTai National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
ShanDong HaiYangWanMi HaiTan HaiYang ZiYuan National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (家级海洋特别保护区)
ShanDong LaiYang WuLong River Mouth Wetlands National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
Shandong Longkou Yellow River Estuary National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
ShanDong RuShanShi TaBayn National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
ShanDong ShanHuJiao Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级海洋自然保护区)
ShanDong WeiHai LiuGong Island National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
ShanDong WeiHai XiaoShi Island National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
Shandong Wendeng National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
ShanDong YanTai KongTong Islands Provincial Nature Reserve (省级自然保护区)
ShanDong YanTai MouPingShaZhi Coast National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
Shandong YanTai ZhiFu Islands National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (海洋特别保护区)
Shandong Yellow River Delta Wetland Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
Shanghai Yangtze Estuarine Wetland Nature Reserve for Chinese Sturgeon Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
ShengsiMaAnLieDao Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级i海洋特别保护区)
TaiZhou DaChen Provincial Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋生态特别保护区)
WenZhou DongTouBeiPanShan Provincial Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋特别保护区)
Xiamen National Ocean Park National Ocean Park (国家级海洋公园)
XiangShanJiuShan National Nature Reserve National Nature Reserve (国家级自然保护区)
XiMenDao National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
YangJiang NanPeng Islands Marine Ecosystem Provincial Nature Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve (省级自然保护区)
YanTai GuangYang River Mouth Ecosystem Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋特别保护区)
YanTaiShan National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
YuShan Islands National Marine Protected Area National Marine Protected Area (国家级海洋特别保护区)
ZhaoYuanShaZhi HaiAn Marine Protected Area Provincial Marine Protected Area (省级海洋特别保护区)

7 Marine Managed Areas:

Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve, Shanghai Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
Dafeng National Nature Reserve Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
Dalian National Spotted Seal Nature Reserve Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
Nanji Islands UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve
Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
Shuangtai Estuary Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance
大连斑海豹国家级自然保护区 Dalian Spotted Seal National Protected Area National Protected Area (国家级自然保护区)