Moving towards a systematic marine eco-compensation mechanism in China: Policy, practice and strategy

Abstract Marine eco-compensation is recognized as an effective strategy for marine ecological protection and management. The development of a marine eco-compensation mechanism in China is at initial stages in legislation and practice, and its connotation has distinct characteristics. Through an overview of existing policies, laws and instruments, this article elaborates the overall framework and political motivation for establishing a systematic marine eco-compensation mechanism. Furthermore, analysis of existing institutional gaps and challenges also implies the demand and potential for future development of the mechanism. Based on a comprehensive survey of the practice of marine eco-compensation at the provincial level in China, this article discusses the main factors, such as the goals, functions, stakeholders, modalities and approaches, of the marine eco-compensation mechanism. Finally, given the current status of the marine ecosystem and the policy and legal contexts, this article proposes pragmatic strategies to promote diversified eco-compensation approaches and to strengthen market-based methods for building a systematic marine eco-compensation mechanism in China.