Ecology and Environment Minister Li Ganjie waves to reporters at a news conference on "fighting resolutely to prevent and control pollution" in Beijing on March 11, 2019. [Photo by Kuang Linhua/chinadaily.com.cn]

China's top environmental supervision body is emphasizing the ecological protection of Bohai Bay, inner sea in the northeastern China to reduce land-based pollution and overexploitation of ocean resources, said Minister of Ecology and Environment Li Ganjie.

Li said an action plan concerning Bohai Bay protection was released in November in coordination with the National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Natural Resources, to transform the bay into a clean, healthy and safe area.

The bay environment protection will focus on pollution treatment and reduction, wetland rehabilitation and risk control to carry out rapid response in case of an emergency.

The ministry, according to Li, is urging provinces and cities along the Bohai Bay rim, including Shandong, Hebei, Liaoning and Tianjin, to strengthen ecological regulation and protection missions.

He said the ministry is also taking charge of examination, detection and regulation work of pollution sources to help improve water quality and environment of Bohai Sea.