Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2011, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 77-84.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2011.04.077cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2011.04.077

• Marine resource development • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Status, degradation causes, and protection measures of the Pearl River Estuary
seashore wetland

LI Tuan-jie1,2, MA Yu2, WANG Di2, WANG Ai-jun3, ZHOU Ying2   

  1. 1. China University of Geosciences, Faculty of Earth Resources, Wuhan  430074, China;  2. South China Sea Marine Engineering
    Surveying Center, South China Sea Branch, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou  510300, China; 3. China Open Laboratory of
    Ocean & Coast Environmental Geology, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China
     
  • Received:2010-06-04 Revised:2010-10-11 Online:2011-09-05 Published:2011-09-08

Abstract:

Comprehensive survey results on the environment state of seashore wetland in the Pearl River Estuary in 2007 and
2008 show that seashore wetland degradation mainly includes four aspects: area reduction of natural wetland, declining pro-
ductivity of wetland, continuing deterioration of wetland environment, and wetland landscape fragmentation. Degradation
causes of the Pearl River Estuary seashore wetland mainly consist of beach development and  reclamation, emissions, hus-
bandry, sea-level rise, overfishing, sea sand exploitation, port construction, and water resource development, among others. It
is imperative to take protective measures. In this paper, seven measures are present, including strengthening relevant laws and
regulations to protect seashore wetland, implementing strategy of sustainable development, making medium-long term layout,
cultivating personnel through training improving research and technology, building measuring system, setting up more protec-
tion areas, and increasing education of the mass. All these provide an important basis for the development, utilization, and
protection of the Pearl River Estuary seashore wetland.

Key words:  Pearl River Estuary, seashore wetland, degradation status, degradation causes, degradation implementing strategy