The development of uninhabited sea islands will soon begin in Fujian, a costal province which has the second highest number of islands in the country, Wednesday's Legal Daily reported.

Local authorities are working towards the development of the islands following approval.

Zhong Sheng, a director in charge of sea islands management of Fujian Provincial Department of Ocean and Fisheries, told the newspaper that in Pingtan County of Fujian Province, the department had recently issued detailed policies.

The law for island protection came into effect on March 1 this year, making development legal in the country.

The law also states all development projects on inhabited islands will be subject to strict environmental impact assessments, and vegetation and indigenous species will be strictly protected.

Zhong disclosed that both the central government and provincial government will also make detailed policies and regulations concerning the management of development.

In the past, many such islands have been illegally leased by local governments and individuals and some people even search for quarry stone by exploding hills on the islands, Zhong told the newspaper.

Besides, many islands have been destroyed when people build roads or reclaim further land from the sea. Since 1990, more than 100 uninhabited islands have disappeared in Fujian, the report said.

China has more than 6,900 islands that each has an exposed area out of water larger than 500 square meters and more than 10,000 smaller isles.

(chinadaily.com.cn May 13, 2010)