2005
| Index |
| Preface |
| Freshwater Environment |
| Marine Environment |
| Atmospheric Environment |
| Acoustic Environment |
| Solid Wastes |
| Radiation and Radioactive Environment |
| Arable Land/Land Resources |
| Forests |
| Grassland |
| Biodiversity |
| Climate and Natural Disasters |
| Environmental Management |
|
General Situation
In 2005, most of the coastal sea areas experienced good water quality despite heavy pollution in some areas. Water quality of high sea areas remained in good condition.
67.2% of the coastal sea areas in China had water quality at Grade I or II standard, up by 17.6 percentage points than the previous year; 8.9% experienced Grade III water quality, down by 6.5 percentage points; and 23.9% witnessed water quality of Grade IV or failed to meet Grade IV, a decrease of 11.1 percentage points.
The monitoring results of nine major bays indicated that the Yellow River Mouth and Beibu Gulf enjoyed good water quality, which was dominated by Grade I or II standard. Jiaozhou Bay and Minjiang Mouth came next, with half of the water quality at Grade II standard and half failing to meet Grade IV. Zhujiang Mouth, Liaodong Bay, and Bohai Bay suffered from poor water quality, with 60%-80% of the water at or worse than Grade IV standard. The Yangtze River Mouth and Hangzhou Bay had the worst water quality, which mostly failed to meet Grade IV.
Distribution of Water Quality in Coastal Sea Areas Nationwide in 2005
In 2005, in terms of coastal seawater quality of the four sea areas, the Yellow Sea and South China Sea enjoyed overall good water quality, Bohai Sea had passable water quality, and East China Sea suffered from bad water quality. However, compared with last year, water quality of the coastal areas of the four major seas all experienced improvements to varied degrees.
The Yellow Sea and South China Sea had a higher proportion of water quality at Grade II standard, up to 88.9% and 85.8% respectively. Among others, that of Yellow Sea increased by 5.5 percentage points, while that of South China Sea was up by 8.0 percentage points. 66.0% of Bohai Sea water met Grade I or II standard, an increase of 25.6 percentage points compared with that of the previous year; and 19.2% was at or worse than Grade IV standard, down by 26.1 percentage points. The major pollutants were inorganic nitrogen and activated phosphate. East China Sea had 35.5% of water quality at Grade I or II standard, up by 18.3 percentage points compared with in 2004. 52.7% was at Grade IV or failed to meet Grade IV, a drop of 8.6 percentage points.
Sketch Map of Water Quality in China's Coastal Sea Areas in 2005
In 2005, among the coastal provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide, Hainan, Guangxi, Shandong and Guangdong enjoyed good coastal seawater quality, while Shanghai and Zhejiang suffered from bad coastal seawater quality.
Seawater Quality of Coastal Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities in 2005 Red Tides
The year 2005 saw 82 cases of red tides in all the sea areas, down by 15% than the previous year; and involving an area of 27,070 km2, the same with last year. However, both the occurrences and area of red tides triggered by toxic algae had increased drastically. Large-scale red tides concentrated in the sea areas of middle Zhejiang Province, sea areas of the outer of the Yangtze River Mouth, Bohai Bay, Meizhou Bay, etc.
The red tide monitoring area continued to play an important role. 42 occurrences of red tides were identified in this region, involving an aggregated area of nearly 15,420 km2, accounting for 51% of the total occurrences and 57% of the total area. The East China Sea was still plagued by red tides.
Red tides mainly impaired coastal fisheries and algae cultivation, and the direct economic losses caused by red tides exceeded 69 million yuan. Large-scale Red Tides Occurring in China's Sea Areas in 2005
Countermeasures and Actions
¡¾Blue Sea Action Plan in major sea areas¡¿ After initiating the Blue Sea Action Plan in the year 2001, SEPA began to implement the plan in Yangtze River Mouth and the adjacent sea area, and Pearl River Mouth and the adjacent area in 2005. The surveys on land-source pollutants in Yangtze River Mouth and adjacent sea areas, and the monitoring of estuarine sediment flux and marine ecological environment finished at the end of 2005. The surveys and planning of Pearl River Mouth and the adjacent sea area also finished.
¡¾Water Quality Weekly on Sea Bathing Beaches of Some Coastal Cities¡¿From June to September 2005, SEPA continued with the monitoring work of water quality in 28 sea bathing beaches of 16 coastal cities, and released 17 issuances of Water Quality Weekly on Sea Bathing Beaches of Some Coastal Cities. 89.3% of the sea bathing beaches was suitable or relatively suitable for swimming.
¡¾Building marine protected areas¡¿The year 2005 saw the establishment of two nation-level marine protected areas in Ximen Island of Leqing City and Ma'an Islands of Shengsi County, Zhejiang Province. Among others, Ximen Island Marine Protected Area covered an area of over 20 km2, and enabled the effective protection of 37 varieties of cay life-forms, 92 kinds of creatures inhabited in mud and shoals, world-level endangered birds like Larus saundersi and Black-faced Spoonbill, national class-II protected animals such as Egretta eulophotes and Spot-billed Pelican that inhabited in wetlands, and the mangrove forests distributed in the northernmost region of China. With an area of 549 km2, Ma'an Islands Marine Protected Area ensured effective protection of islands marine ecosystems characterized mainly by rich marine species resources, unique natural terrestrial features and intertidal wetlands. |
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