Project of Community Participatory Land-based Pollution Control and Coastal Wetland Conservation in Wuli Village, Pengtan, Fujian
? Baseline:
Pingtan, referred to as "Lan", commonly known as Haitan, is adjacent to the Taiwan Strait in the east and the Haitan Strait in the west and consists of 126 islands. It has a land area of 371.91 square kilometers, a tidal flat of 64.65 square kilometers, a sea area of more than 6,000 square kilometers, and a coastline of 399.82 kilometers. It is the closest place to Taiwan Island from mainland China. Considering Pingtan's unique location, the state council approved the 'Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone Overall Development Plan' in 2011, endowed Pingtan with political responsibility, a major historical mission, and a development opportunity, and formulated the strategic development goal of one island, two windows, and three districts, with key directions of cross-strait exchanges, free trade, international tourism island, etc.
Zhuyu Bay, located in the center of Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, is a semi-enclosed inner bay, a natural harbor, an important spawning and nursery ground for fish such as mullets, scorpions, sea breams, and important habitats and resting places for migratory birds like black-faced and white spoonbills, etc. For more than ten years, with the support of the development policy of Pingtan Tourism Island, Zhuyu Bay Cinema and Television Base, Zhuyu Bay Mini Wharf, Bus Terminal, International Hotel, and other tourism-related infrastructures have been built around Zhuyu Bay. However, urbanization has led to ecological problems such as water pollution, land environment deterioration, and coastal ecological damage. In 2016, the local government actively responded to the ?Blue Bay Remediation Action? and carried out large-scale environmental governance actions such as deep dredging, the construction of sponge pollution prevention and control systems, the construction of water environment monitoring capability, etc. The water quality in the Zhuyu estuary has been significantly improved, and comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities have been enhanced.
However, relying solely on administrative means is not enough. A long-term management mechanism is still required to further consolidate the achievements of marine environmental governance. At present, there are nearly 200 fishing speedboats and more than 30 large cargo ships in Zhuyu Bay. These vessels' daily cleaning and engine maintenance often discharge a large amount of waste containing petroleum directly into the sea. Based on our recent survey, the average amount of oil pollution per ship is 7.5L/year, so the annual oil pollution in this area is over 1610 liters. We believe that the oil pollution from ships in Zhuyu Bay will seriously harm the spawning ground of fish which may further affect fish recruitment. Simultaneously, due to the special geographical location of Zhuyu Bay, the oil will enter the Haitan Strait along the current and spread to the agricultural and fishery areas of Fuqing Bay, Beiqi Ao Chinese horseshoe crab Protected areas, Tangyu Islands Marine Reserve, and other places, resulting in more damage in the marine ecosystem.
In this project, we plan to develop a co-management mechanism and engage the Wuli community, a fishing village south of Zhuyu Bay, in coastal ecosystem protection. We believe that promoting the development of indigenous fishing communities and introducing their grass-root power into the governance of economic development and ecological protection is the key way to ensure the sustainability of the coastal ecosystem and villages. The reason for choosing Wuli Village is that the pier in Zhuyu Bay is within the jurisdiction of the Wuli community, and many residents of the Wuli community are our key stakeholders working in the local fishing and marine transportation industries.
? Main problems and needs
According to preliminary investigation and analysis, the protection of Zhuyu Bay coastal wetland ecosystem is facing the following problems:
1. Disorderly discharge of oil from fisheries and transport ships into the sea is one of the important threats. However, the local government has not established any designated oil pollution reception and treatment mechanism. The continuous pollution affects the conservation of early fish resources in the bay and further hinders the recovery of other marine animals and bird populations. Meanwhile, the traditional concept that 'the ocean can accommodate everything' is deeply ingrained in the mind of local indigenous people. They are not fully aware of the far-reaching harm caused by oil pollution to the ecosystem and their livelihoods.
2. The local government has neither built an effective communication mechanism with fishermen and coastal community residents who have the closest relationship with the ocean nor engaged them in coastal wetland ecosystem protection. These people have the advantages of living and working in the first line. They could play a significant role in the long-term supervision of behaviors that cause harm to the coastal wetland ecosystem and make up for 'the last mile' of government management methods.
3. Pingtan is the front line of China's marine economic development and coastal eco-tourism. There is an unprecedented demand for rational and scientific marine development planning and the promotion of the public's awareness of ecological protection. At present, there is still a lack of scientific data on biodiversity, including the early fishery resources of Zhuyu Bay. Therefore, there are no public education materials based on Pingtan's ecosystem and no advocacies in the community.
? Proposed activities to achieve the objectives
Activity 1. Establish a management plan for ship oil pollution control in Zhuyu Bay
(1) Coordinate with local communities and marine and fisheries departments, promote the establishment of a unified yacht marina, organize a multi-stakeholder discussion on the management of ship pollution in Zhuyu Bay, and form a specific yacht marina management plan
(2) Identify key figures in marine pollution control, incubate and form a team of marine environmental protection pioneers, and establish a fixed-point recycle-reward mechanism to reduce oil pollution
Activity 2.
Establish a service and supervision mechanism for collecting oil pollution from ships in Zhuyu Bay with the participation of community residents.
(1) Incubate "Blue Ocean Guardians" from the community's women's volunteer service team and the Wushanyuan Senior Citizens' Association, regularly carry out training activities, invite the community to participate in discussions, and cultivate self-service and self-esteem-managed community endogenous forces.
(2) Carry out specific training activities for collecting ship garbage and oil pollution and establish a ship monitoring mechanism with the participation of community residents.
Activity 3.
Carry out surveys to compare the abundance and diversity of early fish resources in the oil pollution discharge area and the non-pollution area, explain the impact of oil pollution on fish resources and the need for intervention actions, design coastal wetland ecological protection and early fishery resource conservation publicity and education activities, and establish a multi-stakeholder communication system.
(1) Carry out early fish resource surveys in the coastal wetlands for a better understanding of the abundance and diversity of fish larvae and related spawning grounds.
(2) Carry out the ecological investigation, design public education materials and courses based on this scientific basis, and deepen the subjective initiative of the public to participate in environmental protection actions.
(3) Set up multi-functional activity houses for fishermen at the wharf, establish a multi-stakeholder communication platform, and set up posters for marine environmental protection publicity in the surrounding communities.
? Anticipated results
Reduction in discharged ship pollutants and Zhuyu Bay coastal wetlands are well managed
Effective operation of community-participated ship oil pollution control mechanism
Increase in the community residents' awareness of marine conservation
Establishment of a long-term mechanism for ship oil pollution control
Pingtan, referred to as "Lan", commonly known as Haitan, is adjacent to the Taiwan Strait in the east and the Haitan Strait in the west and consists of 126 islands. It has a land area of 371.91 square kilometers, a tidal flat of 64.65 square kilometers, a sea area of more than 6,000 square kilometers, and a coastline of 399.82 kilometers. It is the closest place to Taiwan Island from mainland China. Considering Pingtan's unique location, the state council approved the 'Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone Overall Development Plan' in 2011, endowed Pingtan with political responsibility, a major historical mission, and a development opportunity, and formulated the strategic development goal of one island, two windows, and three districts, with key directions of cross-strait exchanges, free trade, international tourism island, etc.
Zhuyu Bay, located in the center of Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, is a semi-enclosed inner bay, a natural harbor, an important spawning and nursery ground for fish such as mullets, scorpions, sea breams, and important habitats and resting places for migratory birds like black-faced and white spoonbills, etc. For more than ten years, with the support of the development policy of Pingtan Tourism Island, Zhuyu Bay Cinema and Television Base, Zhuyu Bay Mini Wharf, Bus Terminal, International Hotel, and other tourism-related infrastructures have been built around Zhuyu Bay. However, urbanization has led to ecological problems such as water pollution, land environment deterioration, and coastal ecological damage. In 2016, the local government actively responded to the ?Blue Bay Remediation Action? and carried out large-scale environmental governance actions such as deep dredging, the construction of sponge pollution prevention and control systems, the construction of water environment monitoring capability, etc. The water quality in the Zhuyu estuary has been significantly improved, and comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities have been enhanced.
However, relying solely on administrative means is not enough. A long-term management mechanism is still required to further consolidate the achievements of marine environmental governance. At present, there are nearly 200 fishing speedboats and more than 30 large cargo ships in Zhuyu Bay. These vessels' daily cleaning and engine maintenance often discharge a large amount of waste containing petroleum directly into the sea. Based on our recent survey, the average amount of oil pollution per ship is 7.5L/year, so the annual oil pollution in this area is over 1610 liters. We believe that the oil pollution from ships in Zhuyu Bay will seriously harm the spawning ground of fish which may further affect fish recruitment. Simultaneously, due to the special geographical location of Zhuyu Bay, the oil will enter the Haitan Strait along the current and spread to the agricultural and fishery areas of Fuqing Bay, Beiqi Ao Chinese horseshoe crab Protected areas, Tangyu Islands Marine Reserve, and other places, resulting in more damage in the marine ecosystem.
In this project, we plan to develop a co-management mechanism and engage the Wuli community, a fishing village south of Zhuyu Bay, in coastal ecosystem protection. We believe that promoting the development of indigenous fishing communities and introducing their grass-root power into the governance of economic development and ecological protection is the key way to ensure the sustainability of the coastal ecosystem and villages. The reason for choosing Wuli Village is that the pier in Zhuyu Bay is within the jurisdiction of the Wuli community, and many residents of the Wuli community are our key stakeholders working in the local fishing and marine transportation industries.
? Main problems and needs
According to preliminary investigation and analysis, the protection of Zhuyu Bay coastal wetland ecosystem is facing the following problems:
1. Disorderly discharge of oil from fisheries and transport ships into the sea is one of the important threats. However, the local government has not established any designated oil pollution reception and treatment mechanism. The continuous pollution affects the conservation of early fish resources in the bay and further hinders the recovery of other marine animals and bird populations. Meanwhile, the traditional concept that 'the ocean can accommodate everything' is deeply ingrained in the mind of local indigenous people. They are not fully aware of the far-reaching harm caused by oil pollution to the ecosystem and their livelihoods.
2. The local government has neither built an effective communication mechanism with fishermen and coastal community residents who have the closest relationship with the ocean nor engaged them in coastal wetland ecosystem protection. These people have the advantages of living and working in the first line. They could play a significant role in the long-term supervision of behaviors that cause harm to the coastal wetland ecosystem and make up for 'the last mile' of government management methods.
3. Pingtan is the front line of China's marine economic development and coastal eco-tourism. There is an unprecedented demand for rational and scientific marine development planning and the promotion of the public's awareness of ecological protection. At present, there is still a lack of scientific data on biodiversity, including the early fishery resources of Zhuyu Bay. Therefore, there are no public education materials based on Pingtan's ecosystem and no advocacies in the community.
? Proposed activities to achieve the objectives
Activity 1. Establish a management plan for ship oil pollution control in Zhuyu Bay
(1) Coordinate with local communities and marine and fisheries departments, promote the establishment of a unified yacht marina, organize a multi-stakeholder discussion on the management of ship pollution in Zhuyu Bay, and form a specific yacht marina management plan
(2) Identify key figures in marine pollution control, incubate and form a team of marine environmental protection pioneers, and establish a fixed-point recycle-reward mechanism to reduce oil pollution
Activity 2.
Establish a service and supervision mechanism for collecting oil pollution from ships in Zhuyu Bay with the participation of community residents.
(1) Incubate "Blue Ocean Guardians" from the community's women's volunteer service team and the Wushanyuan Senior Citizens' Association, regularly carry out training activities, invite the community to participate in discussions, and cultivate self-service and self-esteem-managed community endogenous forces.
(2) Carry out specific training activities for collecting ship garbage and oil pollution and establish a ship monitoring mechanism with the participation of community residents.
Activity 3.
Carry out surveys to compare the abundance and diversity of early fish resources in the oil pollution discharge area and the non-pollution area, explain the impact of oil pollution on fish resources and the need for intervention actions, design coastal wetland ecological protection and early fishery resource conservation publicity and education activities, and establish a multi-stakeholder communication system.
(1) Carry out early fish resource surveys in the coastal wetlands for a better understanding of the abundance and diversity of fish larvae and related spawning grounds.
(2) Carry out the ecological investigation, design public education materials and courses based on this scientific basis, and deepen the subjective initiative of the public to participate in environmental protection actions.
(3) Set up multi-functional activity houses for fishermen at the wharf, establish a multi-stakeholder communication platform, and set up posters for marine environmental protection publicity in the surrounding communities.
? Anticipated results
Reduction in discharged ship pollutants and Zhuyu Bay coastal wetlands are well managed
Effective operation of community-participated ship oil pollution control mechanism
Increase in the community residents' awareness of marine conservation
Establishment of a long-term mechanism for ship oil pollution control
Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Sea as Sea International Marine Cultural Exchange Center of Pingtan
Country:
China
Area Of Work:
International Waters
Grant Amount:
US$ 50,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 5,763.69
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 7,896.25
Project Number:
CPR/DLF/IW/2022/05
Status:
Currently under execution
Project Characteristics and Results
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
1. By disseminating the concept of marine wetland ecosystem protection and early fish resource conservation and encouraging fishermen and community residents to make changes in production behavior, we can effectively coordinate ecological and economic benefits, explore a sustainable form of marine resource utilization, and protect local communities? long-term livelihoods;
2. Take full advantage of the ecosystem service value. Through the development of marine educational tourism, nature observation festivals, and eco-tourism products, attract customers who are concerned about marine ecology and promote the development of community catering, accommodation, transportation, and other supporting industries. Meanwhile, the elderly and women in the community are invited to serve as "marine cultural instructors", a new livelihood opportunity.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
1. The experience of fishery community co-management and environmental protection actions and surveys of the Zhuyu Bay ecosystem in the project will be compiled into papers or reports and published in relevant conference forums, media or journals;
2. Compile our marine environmental protection and early fish resource conservation actions into posters, manuals, and other materials for community publicity, and develop relevant training courses at the same time;
3. During the implementation period, we will keep reviewing and summarizing practical experience, produce pictures, texts, videos, and other materials for external dissemination through the official account of Sea As Sea, and actively participate in local and international seminars to share our lessons learned.
+ View more
SGP Country office contact
Ms. Meijia Lu
Phone:
+861085320743
Email:
Ms. Lixia Zheng
Email:
Address
No. 2 Liangmahe Nanlu
Beijing, Chaoyang, 100600
Beijing, Chaoyang, 100600
Visit the China Country Page