Hebei Province issued regulations on the management of artificial reef construction

In order to further standardize the construction of artificial reefs in the province and promote the high-quality development of marine ranches, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hebei Province recently formulated and issued the "Regulations on the Administration of Artificial Reef Construction in Hebei Province" (hereinafter referred to as the "Provisions") in accordance with the Fisheries Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementation rules, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Management of the Use of Sea Areas, the Fisheries Regulations of Hebei Province, the Regulations on the Administration of the Use of Sea Areas in Hebei Province, the Territorial Spatial Planning of Hebei Province, and other laws and regulations, and combined with the actual conditions of the province.

The term "artificial reef" as used in the regulations refers to the construction of artificial facilities for the construction of marine aquatic life habitats for the restoration and optimization of the ecological environment in the sea area. According to the purpose of construction, artificial reefs are divided into four categories ↓↓↓

Resource-protected reefs: to restore the ecological environment and prevent the entry of destructive fishing gear such as trawls, and to protect fishery resources;

Breeding reefs: for the purpose of restoring the ecological environment and increasing fishery resources;

Catch-type reefs: for the purpose of trapping aquatic animals and increasing fishery yields or catch quality;

Recreational reefs: Combined with the breeding of reef organisms, the main types of use are swimming fishing, leisure and entertainment.

The regulations make it clear that the provincial fishery administrative department is responsible for the construction and management of artificial reefs in the province, and in accordance with the overall plan for the construction of the national marine ranching and the "Hebei Provincial Land spatial plan", scientifically formulate the construction plan of the marine ranch in the province and rationally lay out the coastal artificial reef area; the fishery administrative departments at the coastal city and county levels are respectively responsible for the planning and management of the construction of marine ranches and artificial reefs within their jurisdiction.

The construction of artificial reefs shall be subject to a licensing system. The construction of artificial reefs on the inside of the "motorized fishing boat bottom trawling ban line" shall be examined and approved by the provincial fishery administrative department. The "Artificial Reef Construction Permit" is valid for 5 years, and citizens, legal persons and other organizations that continue to engage in artificial reef construction shall submit an application for renewal to the provincial fishery administrative department 30 days before the expiration of the validity period.

In addition, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the provisions clarify the scope of application, the management responsibilities of fishery administrative departments at all levels, and the regulatory responsibilities of artificial reef construction entities. The promulgation and implementation of the regulations will effectively promote the construction of artificial reefs and the development of marine ranches in the province to a new level.

Source: Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hebei Province