Guidelines published for maritime oversight

The State Oceanic Administration recently published a set of guidelines on inspection of maritime authorities, aiming at improving management of the country's marine resources.

The Sea Inspection Plan, approved by the State Council, stipulates that the State Oceanic Administration shall send inspectors to check the protection and development of marine resources by provincial governments.

Provincial authorities will rectify problems found by inspectors and report them to the public. Failure to correct problems will lead to restricted use of marine resources and violations to internal disciplines and laws exposed by inspectors will be handed over to disciplinary watchdogs or law enforcement departments, according to the guidelines.

The administration will soon establish an inspection commission, and its three local branches will oversee affairs in the North, East and South China seas and set up inspector teams, Fang Jianmeng, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration, said at a news conference on Sunday.

Inspectors will focus on provincial authorities' implementation of policies and plans made by the central government and will also review local governments' administrative approval procedures, he said.

Fang noted that inspectors will check the 11 provincial regions of the Chinese mainland, including Liaoning, Shandong and Shanghai, on a regular basis each year.