biostudies-literatureZhu GChina Scholarship CouncilNational Key Research and Development PlanNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinae0259516https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8565771biostudies-literatureUnknown16(11)Coastal land reclamation (CLR), particularly port reclamation, is a common approach to alleviating land shortages. However, the spatial extent, percentages, and processes of these newly reclaimed ports are largely unknown. The Bohai Sea is the most concentrated area of port reclamation worldwide. Thus, this study addresses the changes in the different coastline types and port reclamation process in the area. The reclamation area of the 13 ports in the Bohai Sea in 2002-2018 was 2,300 km2, which decreased the area of the sea by 3%. The natural coastline length in Tianjin decreased by 47.5 km, whereas the artificial coastline length increased by 46.6 km. Based on the port boundary, however, only 26.3% of the reclaimed areas have been used for port construction, which concentrates in the TianPloS oneLand reclamation pattern and environmental regulation guidelines for port clusters in the Bohai Sea, China.PMC8565771No. 20170836006741601105No. 2017-YFC-140550041861041Xie ZGao YLiang MZhu GZhang LXu HCheng JfalseLand reclamation pattern and environmental regulation guidelines for port clusters in the Bohai Sea, China.Coastal land reclamation (CLR), particularly port reclamation, is a common approach to alleviating land shortages. However, the spatial extent, percentages, and processes of these newly reclaimed ports are largely unknown. The Bohai Sea is the most concentrated area of port reclamation worldwide. Thus, this study addresses the changes in the different coastline types and port reclamation process in the area. The reclamation area of the 13 ports in the Bohai Sea in 2002-2018 was 2,300 km2, which decreased the area of the sea by 3%. The natural coastline length in Tianjin decreased by 47.5 km, whereas the artificial coastline length increased by 46.6 km. Based on the port boundary, however, only 26.3% of the reclaimed areas have been used for port construction, which concentrates in the Tian2021-01-01T00:00:00Z20212026-05-09T17:15:41.714Z2022-02-11T12:28:26.978ZS-EPMC85657713473122610.1371/journal.pone.0259516