Promoting Marine Ecological Civilization——
                            Island Protection and Sustainable Utilization
As the last territory on the earth, the ocean is the living space and treasure house for human beings. From a global perspective, World Ocean Week (WOW) in Xiamen serves as a platform for regional cooperation as well as for connecting marine and social science, technology, education, public awareness in making policies, management decisions and actions to achieve sustainable use of coastal and marine resources and for achieving sustainable development of the oceans. The annual World Ocean Week in Xiamen commits itself to providing a working platform for international cooperation and communication among the governments of coastal cities, national agencies, experts in marine science & technology, members of international and inter-governmental organizations and of relevant marine industries, enterprises and institutions. WOW intends to facilitate the healthy development of marine industries and to promote sustainable utilization of marine resources, publicizes the marine-related culture festivals, and involves the participation of the public and raise their awareness of marine environmental protection.
         World Ocean Week in Xiamen [2008] has been successfully held from November 7 to November 13 last year. Over 3000 delegates, including officials, experts and delegates from 45 countries and regions, more than 10 international organizations and relevant Chinese national ministries and coastal cities, took part in the 11 marine thematic forums and 2 Marine-themed exhibitions. Moreover, according to the incomplete statistics, around 100 thousand people from all walks of life participated in more than 10 marine cultural activities. The successful WOW’2008 has won the approval of the international society, relevant international organizations and the participants, and gained the focus of the media. The social conformity was also active and impressive.
         World Ocean Week in Xiamen [2009] is scheduled to be held from Nov.6 to Nov.12 this year, with the theme of “Promoting Marine Ecological Civilization-Island Protection and Sustainable Utilization”. As an important component of marine ecosystem, islands are regarded as the second marine economic zone and the “island bridge” that connects the inlands and the oceans. Therefore to strengthen the protection and sustainable utilization of islands is of great significance to promoting the sustainable development of marine economy as well as to preserving marine ecological environment. The activities of WOW’2009 will consist of three parts, namely, the International Marine Forum, the Marine-themed Exhibitions and the Marine Cultural Activities. The International Marine Forum will include the “Main Forum on Island Protection and Sustainable Utilization”, the “Scientific Forum on Watershed and Estuary Management”, the “International Forum on Protection of Marine Biodiversity”, “Seminar on the Oceans and Coastal Zones Management in Developing Countries”， “2009 International Seminar on Protection of Whales and Dolphins in China (Xiamen)”, “Seminar on Innovating Marine Services & Developing Marine Industries” and so on. The Marine-themed Exhibitions will include “2009 International Yachts & Sailboats Exhibition in China (Xiamen)” and “2009 International Fishery Fair in China (Xiamen)”. Varieties of other colorful marine cultural activities will also be held during WOW’2009.
         We expect that WOW’2009 will continue to be an international grand gathering attracting world’s attention on the ocean.

Promoting Marine Ecological Civilization——Island Protection and Sustainable Utilization