China's special marine protected area policy: Trade-off between economic development and marine conservation

Special Marine Protected Areas (SMPAs) in China aim to achieve diverse protection objectives, and permit temperate economic activities. The designation objectives and scopes, zoning schemes, management tasks, and environmental requirements of SMPA are different from Marine Natural Reserve (MNR). Different voices from supporters and opponents were raised on this new kind of policy. For a better understanding on this policy, we analyzed SMPA and its relationship and difference with MNR, dissected development of SMPAs in China, and discussed its governance, management and experiences. The main findings are: (1) SMPA policy is a complementary strategy for MNR policy. SMPA policy can reduce the conflicts and narrow the gap between conservation and local economic development; (2) The coverage of SMPA has sharply increased since the establishment of the first national SMPA in 2005,which demonstrates the Chinese government has paid great attention to multiple-use of marine resources in order to achieve sustainable development. (3) Lack of financial funding, baseline data and scientific research are affecting the effectiveness of conservation and management of SMPA policy. In order to ameliorate the SMPA policy, we suggest (1) making overall strategic planning for multiple-use of marine resources, (2) coordinating the role of central government and local government, and considering the up-bottom system as a complement, and (3) increasing financial support from central government and local government, accumulating baseline data, and conducting systematic scientific research. Given all the features of SMPA Policy, we considered it as an emerging and key mechanism for protection of marine ecosystem and a trade-off between ecological conservation and economic development in China.