Marine Carrying Capacity and Economic Growth

1. Introduction

Developments in science and technology and the increasing scope of human activities have led to the gradual realization of the potential of oceans in terms of their resources, environment, space, and strategic value. Because of their ecological and economic value, marine resources have become important to the survival and development of the human race. Marine resources are not a single type of ecological resource; rather, they combine economic, social, and ecological elements. In exploiting marine resources, we should not only consider economic objectives but must also consider the influence of this exploitation and utilization on the local natural environment. Additionally, the economic and environmental influences on society of exploiting marine resources should be evaluated. Because of the dynamic nature of marine resource exploitation, marine materials or environmental factors that were previously neglected have become economically useful against the backdrop of technical progress and social development. However, although the breadth and depth of ocean development have continued to increase, the fundamental state of marine resources in China remains poor, with low occupancy per capita and inefficient resource utilization.

China faces the dual problem of transforming its economy while ensuring sustainable economic and environmental development. Hence, an unyielding demand for resources and resulting energy shortages are expected to confer restrictions on Chinese social development for some time. The impetus behind the development of marine resources has been increasing. Nevertheless, it remains difficult to meet the present resource consumption requirements. The traditional economic growth model in China, with a high degree of pollution, high consumption, and low profit, has caused significant damage to the environment. Moreover, low prices have meant that resources have been excessively exploited and wasted. If the exploitation and utilization of marine resources become as extensive, inconsistent, and unsustainable as those of land resources, irreversible damage will occur. Presently, the exploitation and utilization of marine resources are at an early stage. Resource shortages can be overcome by enhancing the protection of marine resources and nurturing mutual relationships.

2. Main Contribution of This Special Issue

Based on a rigorous peer review process, ten papers were selected for publication in this Special Issue. Their contributions and implications are discussed below:

Jiang et al. (contribution 1) focus on the green economic growth of marine fisheries and explore the relationship between environmental regulations (ERs), industrial structure (INS), and the green total factor productivity of marine fisheries (MGTFP). Against the backdrop of global climate change and increasing pressures on resources and the environment, a green fisheries economy has become key to achieving sustainable development. This study utilizes panel data from 11 coastal provinces and municipalities in China from 2014 to 2023 and, through a quantitative analysis, evaluates the implementation effects of ER policies on marine fisheries’ production methods, INS, and MGTFP. When measuring the MGTFP, this study innovatively incorporates economic losses from fishery disasters as an undesirable output and employs the super-efficiency SBM-GML model for precise calculation. The results of the study show that ER promoted an increase in MGTFP, while the effect of REC was stronger. The mediating effect model suggests that the industry structure mediates this process. The results of the threshold effect analysis show that both ERC and ERM exhibit significant single-threshold effects. This study aims to provide empirical support and policy recommendations for the government to formulate more effective environmental protection policies and promote the transformation and upgrading of the marine fisheries sector, thereby fostering the green development of China’s marine fisheries.

As the scale of the marine economy continues to expand, the problems of environmental pollution and the over-exploitation of marine resources have become increasingly severe. Yao and Wang (contribution 2) aim to promote sustainable growth of the marine economy, the rational utilization of resources, and the coordinated development of environmental protection. Their study first adopts the system dynamics (SD) model. It then uses the entropy method to weigh the evaluation indicators and create a coupling coordination degree (CCD) assessment simulation of the ecological environment of marine economic resources. They use the created SD model to build and simulate four standard scenarios: current, economic, resource, and environmental. Finally, they propose suitable recommendations for the long-term development of the marine economy based on the coordination evaluation results of the CCD model. They reach the following conclusions: (1) In the immediate term, the economic scenario is poorly coordinated, whereas the environmental scenario is more effectively coordinated. However, in the long-term development process, the resource scenario is reasonably well coordinated. (2) Particular attention must be given to improving the energy mix and protecting the natural environment to promote the sustainable development of the marine economy. (3) To achieve a virtuous cycle between marine economic development and environmental protection, governments, businesses, and all sectors of society must work together to formulate and implement relevant policies and initiatives.

Sun et al. (contribution 3) explore the impact of regional financial development on the sustainable growth of the marine economy across 14 coastal cities in Guangdong Province from 2004 to 2022. To assess this, a comprehensive index system was developed to measure marine economic sustainability, incorporating key factors such as capital investment, production efficiency, and processing and trade. Their findings indicate that financial development significantly enhances the sustainable growth of the marine economy. However, the interaction between financial development, technology digitalization, and low-carbon initiatives leads to diminishing returns in terms of sustainability. Through the use of the Moran index and the spatial Durbin model, the analysis reveals a dual outcome: while financial development positively influences a city’s marine economic sustainability, it exerts negative spillover effects on neighboring cities. Previous studies have primarily focused on the relationship between financial development and the marine economy at the national or provincial level, leaving a gap in understanding these dynamics at the city level. Furthermore, the coordination between financial development and marine economic sustainability across cities within the same region remains largely unexplored. This study addresses these gaps by investigating city-level dynamics and examining intercity coordination between financial development and marine economic growth. The results offer a novel perspective for policymakers, highlighting strategies to balance regional financing for the marine economy with targeted investments in science, technology, digitalization, and low-carbon initiatives. This approach seeks to optimize resource allocation and mitigate potential substitution effects. Ultimately, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between financial development and the marine economy at both city and regional levels.

Yu et al. (contribution 4) present a groundbreaking approach to evaluating the resilience of China’s blue economy, shedding light on its critical role in promoting sustainable development along the nation’s coastlines. By employing advanced methodologies such as social network analysis and the time-varying effect random graph model (TERGM), their research meticulously examines the period from 2007 to 2019. It uncovers the complex dynamics of resilience, focusing on the adversities of unbalanced growth and pinpointing pivotal factors which shape this resilience, including the stability of the marine economy, the rigor of environmental regulations, and the impact of technological progress. Through a strategic compilation of indicators, this analysis offers a detailed perspective on the multi-faceted nature of blue economy resilience. The outcomes underscore the necessity of enhancing network effectiveness and implementing specific measures to encourage sustainable expansion in coastal domains. Leveraging these insights, the authors advocate for targeted strategies to refine the resilience network’s framework, aiming to bolster the sustainable evolution of marine economic activities. This study not only deepens the understanding of marine economic resilience but also charts a course for achieving a resilient and sustainable blue economy. It stands as an indispensable guide for policymakers and scholars in the realm of marine economics, offering a blueprint for navigating the challenges and opportunities within this vital sector.

Enhancing the marine carrying capacity (MCC) is of significant value in hastening the transformation of the marine economy and achieving marine economy high-quality development (MEHD). Chen et al. (contribution 5) explore the synergistic mechanism between the MCC and MEHD and create a comprehensive indicator system to measure the synergistic relationship between China’s MCC and MEHD from 2006 to 2020. To achieve this, the authors used the improved TOPSIS model and the composite system synergism model and explored the influencing factors and their interactions using geographic probes. The research findings are as follows: (1) China’s MCC and MEHD showed a growing trend during the study period, in which marine green development was at a higher level and the cultivation of marine knowledge improved significantly, but the general value of MEHD was relatively low. (2) In terms of the synergistic relationship, the degree of ordering of the two shows a sustained rising trend, and the degree of ordering of the development of the marine economy as a whole is higher than the MCC; the degree of synergy is increasing, but the general value of synergistic development is low. (3) The main factors driving the MCC and MEHD are the marine consumption capacity, the marine opening, and the marine industrial structure; the explanatory power of most factor interactions tends to decrease, and the explanatory power of the interactions between the development of a land-based economy, the marine industry structure, and the marine economy increase, while the impacts of the different factor interactions on the synergistic development are all greater than the factors. The influence of different factors on synergistic development is greater than the influence of each factor alone.

3. Conclusions and Future Directions

China is likely to become a marine power, thereby raising the significance of the oceans to an unprecedented level. Improving the quality of economic growth in China while guaranteeing the sustainable development of marine ecology and resources has been a major subject of recent debate. Because the resources per capita are relatively poor, developing marine resources to improve the marine carrying capacity is a problem in need of an urgent solution.

Therefore, it is important to link marine carrying capacity and economic growth. The development of the marine economy is based on the development and utilization of marine resources, which also causes pollution in the marine environment. Therefore, we must determine the proper threshold of earnings during this stage of economic growth and handle the relationships between resources, the environment, the economy, and human development effectively, ensuring coordination between these different subsystems, as well as a harmonious development balancing the environment and economy. Based on this Special Issue, we know that in important coastal areas, local conditions must be combined with economic growth to control pollutant discharge and stimulate the advancement and rationalization of marine industrial structures. The relationship between strong protection of resources and the environment on the one hand and the rate of social and economic development on the other must be handled carefully so that harmonious, orderly, and healthy development of marine systems can be achieved.