Environmental Regulation, Technological Innovation and Development of Marine Fisheries—Evidence from Ten Coastal Regions in China

This study aims to examine the relationship between environmental regulation, technological innovation and the development of China’s marine fisheries. We make a theoretical overview of the relationship between environmental regulation, technological innovation and the development of marine fisheries. Using data from 10 coastal regions of China, we calculate the comprehensive development level of China’s marine fisheries in each region from 2009 to 2018 through the entropy method. Then, we use a double logit model to analyze the effects of environmental regulation and technological innovation on the development level of China’s marine fisheries, and further test the mediating effect of technological innovation. The results show that environmental regulations have a “U-shaped” effect on the development of China’s marine fisheries. Moreover, technological innovation is crucial in promoting the development of China’s marine fisheries. Further, we identify the mediating role of technological innovation, that is, environmental regulation affects the development of China’s marine fisheries by influencing technological innovation. These findings offer theoretical support for the development of China’s marine fisheries.