1. North China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center, SOA, Qingdao 266033, Shandong, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Ecological Prewarning, Protection and Restoration of Bohai Sea, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266033, Shandong, China; 3. Shandong Provincial Oceanic and Fishery Law Enforcement and Supervision Bureau, Jinan 250002, China

The coastline, as the boundary between land and sea, is shaped by both natural factors and human activities. Based on concrete practice from coastline survey in Shandong Province, this study discusses the applicability of the local standard Specification for Coastline Survey (DB 37/T 3588-2019). The coastline classification system takes into account the coastline characteristics and marine management requirements in Shandong Province. To be specific, the coastline with natural beach morphology and ecological function is involved, and its delimitation method is innovated. The coastline delimitation of sandy beach, aquaculture pond and salt pan follows the trace line of the mean high water springs (MHWS), but the coastline location of sandy beach can also be at the base of cliffs or at the foot of seawalls and roads considering the dynamic changes of the beach in different seasons and the integrity of the beach topography. The delineation of estuarial coastline is to achieve the complete coastline, and should not be used for the statistics of natural coastline retention rate. At present, the review of survey results has been completed. With the promulgation of survey results next, the formulation of relevant mechanisms and policies should promptly be put on the agenda, including regular investigation and data updating, natural coastline assessment, natural coastline requisition-compensation, and coastline protection planning.