The Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Living Resources

Abstract

In this paper, the exploitation, utilization and enhancement of marine living resources in the world, especially in China, have been Described and discussed. The main contents of the present paper is summarized as follows:

• 1. The term “marine living resources” is used here in a broad sense and includes all the living bodies (microbes, algae, seagrass, mangrove and animals) in the marine environment (including estuaries). We should discuss them from the point of view of ecosystems.

• 2. China is a country rich in marine living resources. Nearly ten thousand species of marine organisms are found from the coastal zone and the shallow water of the continental shelf of China.

• 3. The amount of photosynthetic production in waters of the Pohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea is about 3.5x10⁸ tons of carbon/year. According to the theoretical estimates from data on primary production the total annual production of fish biomass is about 16 million tons.

• 4. Marine living resources are exploited and utilized as food, raw meterials for industries, feed, fertilizers, new energy resources and ornaments. Marine pharmacognosy which plays an important role in Chinese traditional medicine has attracted attention of the public in China and other countries.

• 5. Though overfishing in some areas in the ocean took place, the future of world production of marine fisheries will be bright.

• 6. Mariculture is greatly developed in China. At present, over 40 species of marine algae and animals are cultivated, the annual yield have increased to more than 50xl0⁴ tons.

• 7. Protective management is very important in maintaining the high, abundant biomass of marine living resources.

The exploitation and utilization of marine living resources is an important component in the development of the ocean usage and have received close attention of the various coastal states of the world.