China is eyeing emerging sectors to guarantee the sustainable and environment-friendly development of the country's marine economy, with the first batch of high-tech bases expected to be established within this year, a senior expert said.

Liu Rongzi, a marine economy expert from the China Institute for Marine Affairs, the policy-consulting unit of the State Oceanic Administration, said the location of the bases will be selected among Shandong, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Tianjin.

As pilot zones, they will get central government financial support in fostering these sectors, according to Liu.