The bureau will unify multiple marine forces, including China Maritime Surveillance, the Ministry of Public Security's coast guard, the Ministry of Agriculture's fisheries law enforcement command and the maritime anti-smuggling authorities of the General Administration of Customs.
Meng Hongwei, vice-minister of public security, has been named chief of the country's maritime police, while Liu Cigui, director of the SOA, has been appointed political commissar.
Besides highlighting maritime law enforcement, the plan also emphasized coordination between the SOA and other ocean-related departments, such as the ministries of agriculture, transport and environmental protection.
It said the SOA and the Environment Ministry should establish systems of communication to jointly investigate cases of severe pollution.
The SOA has so far not commented on the new arrangements.
Liu Shuguang, deputy dean of China Ocean University's Marine Development Institute, applauded the move to solve problems related to inefficient maritime law enforcement and to enhance coordination between departments.
"Things on the sea are just as complicated as on the ground and need joint efforts," he said. "The plan shows the restructured administration will strengthen cooperation with other departments."
The SOA was reorganized in March as part of broad institutional reforms involving departments such as the former State Food and Drug Administration, the Ministry of Health and the National Energy Administration.
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