China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC) independently and impartially resolves, by means of arbitration, contractual and non-contractual maritime disputes arising from, or in the process of, transportation, production and navigation by or at sea, in coastal waters and other waters adjacent to sea, with a view to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned. In order to act an active response to the State strategy to build Shanghai as an international shipping center and to improve the investment environment in Shanghai, and convenient for parties' arbitration as well, CMAC established the Shanghai Sub-Commission in January 2003. The Shanghai Sub-Commission is an integral part of CMAC, with a secretariat to handle its daily affairs directed by the secretary general. The Shanghai Sub-Commission executes the same function as CMAC, and can independently accept and hear cases. In order to promote the development of the fishery production and to resolve disputes arising from the fishery fields, the Fishery Dispute Resolution Center was founded in January 2003 The center is within Shanghai Sub-Commission of CMAC.