China should improve its legal and administrative designs on the exploitation of marine resources to provide an unitive and effective baton directing the competition of the burgeoning marine industry, a political advisor said during the ongoing annual session of the country's top advisory body.

China has seen rapid development of its marine industry over past few years but it lacks a unitive mechanism of management and sound regulation of laws, which leads to orderless competition and damage of the marine resources, said Zhang Huajun, a member of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

China has more than 3 million square kilometers of sea areas, with more than 1,400 harbors and 210,000 cargo ships. Marine industry is playing an increasingly important role in the growth of national economy.

China's Law on Management of Maritime Space Utilization, which took effect on January 1 2002, boasted the world's first law of this kind.

"But we need detailed regulations," said Chen Lianzeng, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration, at a panel discussion with members of the CPPCC National Committee.

The Environment and Resources Protection Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, is mulling of drafting a law to regulate the exploitation of the country's islands, Chen said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2006)