Sustainable development and coastal management of tidal flat in Jiangsu Province, China

With huge area, favorable light, heat and water conditions, rich biological diversity, and a unique ecological system of submarine sand ridges, Jiangsu tidal flat has great significance to its economic development. Based on the geomorphological characteristics, Jiangsu tidal flat is dynamically divided into stable, erosional and accumulative types. In light of resources distribution, evolution rules of Jiangsu tidal flat, existing problems in coastal management, exploitation and utilization, the sustainable development theory is applied to guide the comprehensive exploitation and utilization of tidal flat. Taking different regions with different local conditions in consideration, and in order to make economic development coordinate with local resources and environments, four regional sustainable development models, i.e. (A) Abandoned Huanghe (Yellow) River delta section for salt and aquatic products industries, (B) Sheyang section for reed, aquaculture and rare animal protection, (C) Dafeng and Dongtai section for agricultural comprehensive exploitation, (D) Nantong section for aquaculture and agriculture, are suggested. Meanwhile, the paper takes the guiding ideology of sustainable development to be reflected in modern integrated coastal management and legislation.