Boasting of the extremely rich biological , chemical and mineral resources, the ocean covers 71% of the surface of the earth and contains sea water more than 700 million cubic km. With the development of the science and technology, the size of exploration of marine resources becomes larger and larger, therefore, the degree human beings rely on the ocean also increased much higher correspondingly. On the other hand, ocean plays a more and more important role for human beings. China is one of the biggest marine nations worldwide. The Chinese sea area, which includes Bohai, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea and part of Pacific area east of Taiwan Province, is vast. China possesses the 18000 km long coastline, more than 4 million square km sea area and over 6000 islands. Chinese sea area extends through tropical, subtropical and temperate three climate zones, which leads to the result of pleasant weather and rich resources. The Chinese coastal area is vast , with 10 million mu tidal flat and 300 million mu area within 15 metres beneath the sea surface. There are more than 1500 kinds of fish and various kinds of benthon. The total output is very high, furthermore, the marine plants, such as kelp and agar are also very abundant.

The offshore mineral resources are rich, with the oil deposition estimated about 200?10 tons. Otherwise, besides over ten kinds of metal, nonmetal and placer deposit along the bench, the offshore sea area contains abundant sea water chemical resources and energy resources. It is a cheap and convenient passageway of transportation because the ocean connects the five continents worldwide.

The population density in coastal zone is high, and except Taiwan Province and Hong Kong and Macao Area, the 11 provinces and cities along the coastal zone cover the land area about 119? 104 square km, occupying 13.8% of the total area of China. 440 million people reside in this area, occupying 40% out of the total, with average population density of 312 person per square km, nearly 2.5 times the density of the national average level. The major cities along the coastal zone include Dalian, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Beihai, Haikou, etc. Having one-twentieth of the total population, these cities’ total value of industrial output and profits tax reach one-forth to one-fifth of that of the whole country.

With the gradually shortage of land resources because of the large-scale exploitation and with the development of science and technology, which result in the enhancement of the marine consciousness of the marine status in the national economy, it is not only urgent, but also possible to turn the hopes into reality that we can attain the food, energy and resources out of the ocean by switching our focus on the ocean. Many countries have adjusted the marine policy, widened the sea area which under state management and increased the investment into marine industries. Therefore, the sovereignty of our sea area and islands are constantly violated by some marine neighbor countries. Concerning this severe situation, there still exists great gap not only in idea but also in action. We are forced to change our ideas facing the new challenge with the intense marine consciousness and realistic action.

For many years, our management for the marine resources is carried out basically according to the properties and production of natural resources on the trade branch basis. This mode of management appears to be the results under conditions that the marine economy has not grown up as a competitive profession and the national marine administration has not come into effect. Some institutions with certain ability to exploit the natural land resources explored the natural sea resources and extended their production, simultaneously, their management function has been extend to the field of sea. The administration for the sea according to the profession is the administration system of combination of production and administration. The functions of marine resources administrations can not be fully carried out, if we pay our attention not only to the production, but also to the resources management. In practice, the exploitation and output are emphasized, while on the other hand, the protection and management of marine environment are inevitable ignored, particularly the institutions could not focus their attention on the protection and management of the long-term interests concerning the permanent usage of marine resources, in result, the marine administrations are in the subordinate status and can not be exercised effectively. Large though our sea area is, various explorations of marine resources are centered along the narrow coastal zones and coastal sea areas. The present way of administration for the marine resources by various institutions according to the professional production is in fact the various administration in the same range of limited coastal sea area by different departments. Therefore, the contradictions between all kinds of professions and the contradictions between the exploration and marine and biological environment grow more and more serious with the strengthening of marine exploration.

2. The law method of marine management

3. Economic method of marine management

The economic method of marine management refers to that the national marine administrative institutions administrate the sea indirectly by means of economy, mainly including the means of tax revenue, profit, financial aid, collecting fees, money award, fine, etc.