BEIJING, Oct. 4 -- China's marine economy maintained stable growth in the first half of this year boosted by strong emerging sectors and sound recovery of traditional industries.

The marine economy expanded 8.6 percent year on year in the Jan.-June period to 2.58 trillion yuan (419.51 billion U.S. dollars), data from the State Oceanic Administration said.

The growth rate outpaced the country's GDP growth, which slipped to 7.4 percent in the same period.

Emerging marine sectors led the growth. Marine medicine saw fastest growth among all industries with its added value up 17.2 percent from a year ago, followed by marine electricity and tourism, which climbed 16.2 percent and 9.7 percent year on year respectively.

Traditional industries have started to recover due to proceeding industrial structural adjustment. Shipping and deep sea fishery increased by 4.4 percent and 4.9 percent year on year respectively.

The offshore oil and gas sector increased 14.7 percent from a year ago boosted by international oil price hike.

China's offshore oil production amounted to 22.13 million tonnes in the first half, 2.2 percent down from the same period of last year, and natural gas output increased 4.7 percent year on year to 6.09 billion cubic meters.