Today (June 8) marks the 16th World Oceans Day and the 17th National Oceans Day, with a theme of "Protecting Marine Ecosystems, Harmonious Coexistence with Nature." Recently, Guangdong released a special report on the province's ocean economy development, highlighting the province's impressive ocean economic achievements.

According to the report, Guangdong's marine economy GDP reached 1.88 trillion yuan in 2023, maintaining its top position in the country for 29 consecutive years. It accounted for 13.8% of its regional GDP and 18.9% of China's total ocean production value, with a nominal growth rate of 4.0%.

The report also shows that the structure of Guangdong's marine economy has shifted towards a more balanced three-sector development, with a ratio of 3.3:31.4:65.3 in the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, respectively. The ocean tourism and transportation industries continue to drive growth, while the manufacturing industry has seen a significant increase in value.

Geographically, Guangdong's 14 coastal cities have each focused on different aspects of ocean development. The core cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen have targeted high-end services such as ocean research and development, blue finance, and maritime logistics. Cities like Foshan and Zhongshan have emphasized high-end equipment manufacturing in the Pearl River Delta region. Cities in the eastern and western parts of the province, such as Shantou and Zhanjiang, have focused on characteristic industries like ocean farming and offshore wind power.

Meanwhile, Guangdong has made significant progress in ecological construction and environmental protection. As of the end of 2023, the province has created new mangrove forests covering approximately 2,656 hectares and restored existing ones covering around 2,010 hectares. The water quality of near-shore waters has also improved significantly, with an excellent water quality ratio of 92.3%, reaching its best level in over 20 years.

(cnbayarea.org.cn & GDToday)