China opened a training and awareness center on marine
biodiversity protection in southeast coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian Province on Wednesday.
The move will help curb the decline in the varieties and numbers
of marine life in the country, said Chen Lianzeng, deputy director
of the State Oceanic Administration.
The center will focus on managing marine life diversity in
coastal areas along southern China following a program launched by
the United Nations Development Program.
"The center will help spread advanced models of foreign
countries in protecting marine life and raise the protection
awareness of the nation's governments and people," said Chen.
With 30 sea reserves now under state protection and a further 60
under local government protection, all endangered marine life is
now under surveillance.
China became a signatory member of the United Nations Convention
on Biological Diversity in 1992.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2006)