A Study on the Threats of Shipping Activities to the Ecological Value of Marine Protected Areas and Control Strategies from the Perspective of International Law

Shipping is a backbone of global commerce, yet in and around marine protected areas it can generate a range of ecological pressures, including physical disturbance, chemical contamination, and chronic underwater noise. International law offers the principal tools for managing these risks. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), states bear baseline duties to prevent, reduce, and control marine pollution. Building on this foundation, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed operational instrumentsmost notably Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) and Emission Control Areas (ECAs)through which binding routing, discharge, and emissions measures can be adopted for vulnerable sites. Compliance is further supported by port-state control, regional regulatory arrangements, and emerging technological monitoring and mitigation methods. Given Chinas status as a leading maritime and shipping power, it should actively seek PSSA and/or ECA designations for ecologically critical protected areas, refine and enforce its domestic legal framework, and deepen cooperation within IMO and relevant regional regimes. These steps would help China meet its international environmental responsibilities while contributing to more effective global ocean governance and a workable balance between navigational use and biodiversity conservation.