The map is divided into three parts elaborating spawning grounds, wintering grounds, feeding areas and migration passages of major fish species and other marine creatures in the Bohai and Yellow seas, the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

The ministry said the map also demarcated areas for fishing and aquaculture production as well as national and provincial nature reserves for marine plants and creatures.

The map would be an effective technical support for the authorities in preventing other activities from damaging fishery resources and polluting the special sea areas, the ministry said.

A number of accidents had occurred when exploiting oil or laying fiber-optic cables in the sea, which led to water pollution and damage to fisheries and other marine life, the ministry said.

The ministry also plans to draw more detailed maps and maps for fresh water fisheries.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2002)