The exploitation of marine resources has become an important aspect of Pingtan's economic development, People's Daily website reported on Sunday.

Since the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone's establishment in 2011 in Southeast China's Fujian province, it has been adhering to the principle of pursuing economic development in accordance with the environment carrying capacity, and balancing the exploitation of marine resources and environment protection, said You Hua, deputy director of the fishery sector of Pingtan's economic development administration.

"Our goal is to ensure the marine environment while striving to become a modernized, internationalized coastal city," said You.

Pingtan boasts a sea area of 6,064 square kilometers and a stretch of coastline about 408 kilometers. Pingtan Island is the country's fifth largest and Fujian's largest island.

"Since the establishment of the zone, we've been planning sea-related projects on the premise of giving considerations to the capacity of the marine environment. For instance, during the construction of Huandao (Island Ring) Road, we kept the road as far from the beach as possible and have carried out beach restoration work (in some sections)," said You.

Instead of constructing large industrial projects or swarms of residential buildings in the eastern part of the island, where a large stretch of sandy bank lies, Pingtan plans to develop a leisure resort and ecological tourism area. It will move low-carbon industries and the new urban area zone to the western part where it has reclaimed land from the sea, said You.

Despite scrupulous planning efforts, some aquaculture farms will still be affected by industrial projects and must relocate to make way for them. The government will help to relocate those farms to other qualified areas and compensate the farmers, added You.

He also revealed that the central government will earmark a fund of 16.5 million yuan ($2.69 million) for beach restoration in Liushui town. One of the main targets of the project is sewage management.

"Pingtan has reformed sewage pipes to the sea. Pollutants will get treatment before they can be discharged into the sea in order to reduce pollution to the marine environment," said You.

Two sewage disposal plants with an investment of more than 600 million yuan are also being built. They are expected to treat up to 50,000 tons of sewage after construction.

A cleaning squad has been set up for beach clean-up missions. The government is also calling on all Pingtan residents to participate in the campaign, said You.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai