The coastal zone is the most developed and ensely-populated area in China. Meanwhile, the contradiction between resources exploitation and environment protection in this area is also the most grievous. It is critical for the Chinese government to implement the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). The study of definition and scope of coastal zone is the precondition of implementing the ICZM. This article analyzes the definitions of coastal zone in main marine countries, international organizations and China, and makes clear the criteria for the division of coastal zones. It also establishes the scope and framework of Chinese coastal zone employing the “threefold division method”, in order to provide reference for the IMCZ in China.
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