The designation and management of marine nature reserves is one of the best ways to conserve marine biodiversity and to prevent overall deterioration of the marine ecological environment. Coastal and marine protected areas help maintain ecosystem productivity, safeguarding essential ecological processes by controlling activities that disrupt them or that physically damage the environment. A major role of the coastal and marine protected areas has been considered the preservation of genetic resources. Both ecological processes and genetic resour- ces must be maintained for the sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems.

In June, 1988, State Councillor Song Jian sent a letter to Mr. Yan Hongmo, Administrator of the State Oceanic Administiation (SOA), in which said" propose SOA to establish several marine reserves in China", " Sea should be exploiled. However, if a bit original resouce was not preserved and let to be damaged, no naturalness should be seen by future generations".

In July, 1988, the management system for the reserves in China was clearly defined as a combined setup of comprehensive and decentralized managments. It clearly stipulated that "Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Water Rescurces, and State Oceanic Administration are responsible for the management of various types of reserves". In November, the State Council decided that SOA is responsible for the designation and management of marine reserves. Five marine nature reserves, including Chan- gli Golden Beach, Shankou mangrove ecosystem, Dazhou Island marine ecosystem nature reserves were selected, investigated and demonstrated by the local marine admiuistrations and relevant departments under the unified organization in early 1989 and approved by the State Council in September 1990.In November 1991, SOA set up a review board on national marine nature reserves which demonstrated, assessed and recommended to the State Council a group of national marine nature reserves for approval. In October 1992, the second group of national marine nature res- erves, including Tianjin palaeocoast and wetland and Jinjiang ancient forest, was approved by SOA. During this time numbers of regional marine nature reserves have been designated by SOA and the local marine managemet departments and approved by local goverments.