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A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 5765

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Daqing Wu

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Guest Editor

College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Interests: fishery industry chain; resilience; bioeconomic modeling; economic valuation; fisheries decision-making

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing pressure on global fisheries—from climate change, over-exploitation, shifting markets, and policy challenges—highlights the critical role of economics in shaping sustainable and equitable marine and freshwater systems. As fishery resources become increasingly strained and demand for seafood continues to rise, it is clear that effective economic frameworks are essential to balance ecological sustainability, social welfare, and economic efficiency. Fisheries economics has evolved significantly over recent decades, advancing in both theoretical depth and empirical application. From bioeconomic modeling to policy evaluation and market analysis, the field now addresses complex issues such as climate resilience, equity in access, and the economic impacts of management reforms. There is a growing need to consolidate cutting-edge research that informs real-world decision-making and supports the transition toward sustainable fisheries governance.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest advances in fisheries economics to support evidence-based policy and management. We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and perspective papers on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

Bioeconomic modeling of fishery systems under environmental and economic uncertainty;
Economic valuation of marine and freshwater ecosystem services;
Impacts and reform of fisheries subsidies and economic incentives;
Cost–benefit analysis of fisheries management policies (e.g., MPAs, ITQs, seasonal closures);
Market dynamics, seafood trade, and consumer behavior in global supply chains;
Economics of small-scale, artisanal, and community-based fisheries;
Behavioral and experimental economics in fisheries decision-making;
Innovation, efficiency, and economic sustainability in fishery production and post-harvest systems;
Strategies to strengthen the resilience of the fisheries industry chain.

By bringing together diverse perspectives and high-quality research, this Special Issue will contribute to a deeper understanding of the economic forces shaping fisheries today and help guide sustainable and equitable solutions for the future.

Prof. Dr. Daqing Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

bioeconomic modeling
economic valuation
fisheries decision-making
seafood trade
resilience

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 456 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanism of China’s Aquaculture Industry Competitiveness Under Technological Empowerment

by Ling Shi and Xin Shen

Fishes 2026, 11(5), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11050258 - 23 Apr 2026

Viewed by 316

Abstract

The high-quality development of the aquaculture industry is of great significance for ensuring food security and promoting regional economies, and improving the technological level is an important driving force for breaking through industry bottlenecks and enhancing core competitiveness. This study aims to deeply explore the multi-dimensional driving mechanism and enhancement path of aquaculture competitiveness. Based on the theoretical framework of Porter’s Diamond Model, it uses panel data from 30 provinces in the “China Fishery Statistical Yearbook” from 2014 to 2025 to empirically test the impact of technological level, resource endowment, policy support, related industries, and market scale on industry competitiveness using a partial least squares structural equation model. The empirical results show that technological level and resource endowment not only directly drive the development of supporting industries and market expansion, but also enhance overall efficiency through mediation transmission mechanisms. Policy support can stimulate market demand. Related industries play an important role in enhancing competitiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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22 pages, 7037 KB

Open AccessArticle

Projected Impacts of Extreme Drought on Tilapia Aquaculture in Guangdong, China, Under SSP Scenarios: Climate-Yields Modeling Approach Using Loss Function

by Shunxiang Yang, Yingli Zhang, Zefang Liao and Dengke Cao

Fishes 2026, 11(4), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11040232 - 15 Apr 2026

Viewed by 288

Abstract

Global warming presents urgent challenges for tilapia aquaculture. This study introduces a tailored loss function to assess long-term impacts under extreme drought, using historical drought data in China as a baseline. The TaiESM1 climate model within the CMIP6 framework is applied to project future conditions under SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585 scenarios, focusing on Guangdong Province (2024–2100). The results indicate a general decline in the frequency of extreme droughts across all scenarios. Under SSP245, technological advancements combined with reduced drought risk may boost yields of tilapia aquaculture of Guangdong to 2.369–2.418 million tons by 2100. In SSP370 and SSP585, while humidity increases, drought risk reduction is less pronounced, resulting in marginally lower yields (2.285–2.408 and 2.300–2.416 million tons, respectively). When a unified loss parameter is applied, projected yields exhibit a U-shaped trend across all SSP scenarios, reaching a minimum under SSP370 in the mid-century period before recovering toward the end of the century, driven by scenario-dependent marginal responses of production to changes in extreme drought risk, highlighting the nonlinearity of climate impacts driven by complex climatic factors and socioeconomic interactions. These findings are subject to uncertainties associated with the use of a single climate model and the simplified representation of drought impacts in the loss-function framework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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20 pages, 1461 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Economic Concentration of Offshore Mariculture in China: Insights from a Nation-Scale GIS Dataset

by Wei Yang, Yinping Hu and Kunlin Tang

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010062 - 18 Jan 2026

Viewed by 491

Abstract

China is the world’s leading producer of offshore mariculture, contributing more than 60 percent of global output. Yet the provincial distribution of mariculture space and its economic concentration are still not well described at a comparable national scale. This study draws on a publicly available nation-scale GIS dataset extracted from Landsat 8 imagery from 2018 to map offshore mariculture across nine coastal provinces and to quantify spatial inequality and specialization. The mapped offshore mariculture footprint totals 733,840 ha. The distribution is sharply uneven. Fujian alone reaches 183,025 ha, nearly thirty times the area of Hainan. The Gini coefficient is 0.412, and concentration ratios show that the top three provinces account for 64.0 percent of the total area, and the top five account for 84.5 percent. Location quotient results indicate strong specialization in Fujian, Jiangsu, and Hebei, while Hainan and Guangxi remain marginal. Cluster analysis further identifies three development modes: large-scale expansion, medium-scale and relatively balanced growth, and small-scale dispersed production. Overall, the pattern is consistent with resource endowment, agglomeration effects, and path dependence. The findings point to the need for improved coastal spatial planning, stronger interprovincial technology diffusion, and differentiated governance that balances efficiency with equity and environmental sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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21 pages, 300 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Empowerment of the China’s Marine Fishery for High-Quality Development: A Total Factor Productivity Perspective

by Mengqian Guo, Jintao Ma, Zhengjie Wu and Haohan Wang

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010039 - 8 Jan 2026

Viewed by 468

Abstract

In the context of the era where the maritime power strategy converges with the wave of the digital economy, the digital economy provides a critical transformational opportunity for marine fisheries to break through the traditional extensive model and achieve high-quality development. Based on panel data from 41 coastal cities in China from 2003 to 2022, this study empirically examines the enabling effect of the digital economy on marine fisheries from the perspective of total factor productivity. The findings are as follows: First, the development of the digital economy promotes the improvement of total factor productivity in marine fisheries, but this is primarily achieved through “innovation-driven” expansion of the production frontier, while its potential in “efficiency catch-up” has not yet been fully realized. Second, the enabling effect exhibits distinct spatial heterogeneity, with its positive impact concentrated in cities in the South China Sea region, where industrial foundations and policy environments are more aligned. Third, the influence of the digital economy demonstrates nonlinear threshold characteristics; when technology promotion and industrial collaboration surpass specific thresholds, the enabling effect significantly strengthens, but as innovation capability improves, its marginal contribution shows a diminishing trend. Accordingly, it is recommended to deepen the application of digital technologies in core processes, transitioning from “isolated applications” to “systematic integration.” Simultaneously, tailored regional development strategies should be formulated to align with the resource endowments and development stages of each maritime region. On this basis, efforts should be made to improve technology promotion and industrial support systems, construct a collaborative and efficient digital fishery ecosystem, and facilitate the sustainable transition of marine fisheries from factor-driven to innovation-driven growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

37 pages, 2325 KB

Open AccessArticle

Nudges, Subsidies or Regulation? Estimating Effects of Policy Choices and Mixes on Digitalization: Evidence from China’s Aquaculture Industry

by Yixin Qian, Zhuoran Yin, Yihao Zhang and Jianming Zheng

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010038 - 8 Jan 2026

Viewed by 523

Abstract

Aquaculture digitalization is increasingly regarded as a crucial pathway to improving productivity, sustainability, and resilience in the fisheries sector. Policy instruments intended to foster this digital transformation—such as substantial subsidies and stringent regulatory mandates—often face constraints stemming from fiscal limitations, administrative burdens, and implementation inefficiencies. Behavioral interventions (nudges) represent a potentially effective and less resource-intensive alternative, yet their capacity—individually or in conjunction with moderate subsidies and regulatory measures—to foster aquaculture digitalization remains empirically underexplored. Drawing on survey data from 254 fish farmers in the lower Yangtze River region and employing a combination of principal component analysis (PCA), ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and Gradient Boosted Trees (GBT) techniques, this study finds that: (1) Social nudging has a robust and consistent positive effect on digital transformation; (2) The effects of subsidies and regulations are heterogeneous and context-dependent; (3) The negative interactions between nudging and constraints, as well as between nudging and subsidies, are context-dependent and tend to inhibit digital transformation; (4) Policy effects display marked heterogeneity across different contexts, particularly with respect to sales channels, external pressures, producers’ transformation capabilities, and the scale of aquaculture operations. These findings deepen the understanding of how behavioral and structural policies interact in agricultural digitalization, emphasizing that effective policy should combine financial and regulatory measures with efforts to strengthen farmers’ digital awareness and behavioral adaptability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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18 pages, 1747 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of New Quality Productivity on Fishery Industrial Chain Resilience: Evidence from a Dual Machine Learning Model

by Daqing Wu, Yingying Ma and Shousong Cai

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010025 - 1 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 479

Abstract

Fisheries are fundamental for food security, and enhancing fishery industry chain resilience (FCR) is essential for safeguarding national supply and promoting high-quality development. With the rapid advancement of new quality productivity (NQP), its integration into the fishery industry chain provides a critical pathway to resilience enhancement and modernization. Using provincial-level data from China between 2012 and 2022, this study evaluates FCR across 29 provinces. A dual machine-learning framework is applied to assess the effects of a provincial NQP index on FCR and its underlying mechanisms. The results show that NQP has a statistically significant positive effect on overall FCR, with estimated coefficients ranging from 0.221 to 0.223 across model specifications. Dimension-specific analysis reveals pronounced heterogeneity: NQP significantly enhances resistance and recovery capacity (rr) as well as innovation and transformation capacity (it), while exerting a negative effect on adjustment and adaptive capacity (aa). Its impact on green ecological restoration capacity (ger) is positive but not statistically significant. Regional heterogeneity analysis shows that the resilience-enhancing effect of NQP is more pronounced in coastal provinces than in inland regions. Mechanism analysis suggests that improvements in labor productivity constitute a key channel through which NQP strengthens FCR. These findings highlight the importance of regionally differentiated strategies for promoting resilient and sustainable fishery development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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18 pages, 1365 KB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Potential and Influencing Factors of Sustainable Development of China’s Marine Fisheries

by Yizhuo Zhang, Zhiqiang Wang, Xinbin Wang, Rongjie Guo, Xiumei Fu, Yiyang Liu and Fengwei Zhang

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010008 - 24 Dec 2025

Viewed by 808

Abstract

China is a major global marine fishing country, and exploring the sustainable development potential of its marine fisheries is critical to the global fisheries sector’s Blue Transformation. Based on sustainable development connotations, this study adopts the GM(1,1) model and entropy weight-TOPSIS model to predict and evaluate the marine fisheries’ sustainable development potential from 2021 to 2030, building an evaluation framework spanning economic, social, and resource-environmental dimensions. The results show an overall upward trend in the sustainable development potential during the period, with a notable 2022 trough driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, policy transitions, and complex international conditions. As adverse factors ease and long-term policies advance, the potential will continue to improve steadily. Finally, targeted policy recommendations are proposed, focusing on industrial transformation, technological innovation, resource-environment conservation, and factor guarantee to facilitate the sector’s sustainable development and Blue Transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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16 pages, 361 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Differentiated Role of Government Support in Fostering Innovation: Evidence from Smallholder Aquaculture in China

by Zhong Xu and Peng Zhao

Fishes 2026, 11(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes11010006 - 22 Dec 2025

Viewed by 502

Abstract

The global aquaculture sector faces mounting pressure to transition towards sustainable production, with innovation being a critical lever for change, especially among smallholder farmers who dominate the industry. This study examines the drivers of innovation in China’s freshwater aquaculture sector by constructing a multi-dimensional innovation index—encompassing infrastructure, machinery, inputs, environmental management, and production models—and analyzing survey data from 336 farmers. Our findings reveal that direct government funding is significantly associated with innovation, but its effect is narrow, primarily linked to machinery upgrades, and effective only in the developed eastern region. In contrast, indirect support through technical training shows a broader, stronger, and more consistent association with innovation across all types, with effects lagging by 1–2 years and yielding the highest returns in less-developed western China. Notably, farmers’ ex post evaluations of training are a stronger predictor of innovation than training frequency itself, underscoring the importance of quality and relevance. We further find that production scale and industrial organization are positively associated with innovation, with no evidence of an inverted U-shaped relationship, reflecting the sector’s small-scale structure. These results highlight the need for a differentiated policy approach: prioritizing high-quality, demand-driven training nationwide; targeting direct funding to where complementary capacities exist; and fostering cooperatives and scale-enhancing institutions to systematically strengthen the sector’s innovative capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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28 pages, 1854 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multidimensional Framework of Post-Disaster Resilience in South-Pearl Aquaculture in Guangdong, China: A Grounded Theory Study

by Taohong Zhu, Runa Xu, Yongshan Liao, Jun Du and Qingheng Wang

Fishes 2025, 10(12), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120642 - 12 Dec 2025

Viewed by 867

Abstract

Guangdong south-pearl aquaculture, a cornerstone of China’s marine industry under the Rural Revitalization Strategy, contributes over 70% of national output but faces escalating marine disasters that expose systemic barriers to resilience. This study develops a diagnostic multidimensional framework for post-disaster resilience using a Grounded Theory design. We conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with participants from five key enterprises and cooperatives in the core Leizhou production region. Interview transcripts were analyzed in NVivo through open, axial, and selective coding with constant comparison. Open coding generated 136 initial concepts, axial coding consolidated them into 25 categories, and selective coding integrated these into four core dimensions: technological adaptation gaps, institutional trust deficits, human-resource succession ruptures, and ecological path dependence. These dimensions constitute the core phenomenon, termed the four-dimensional synergistic dilemma. Building on this empirically grounded diagnosis, we propose a multidimensional collaborative recovery framework that links each dimension to actionable levers, including stress-tolerant breeding and ecological aquaculture models, targeted policy instruments and adaptive insurance, industry-education pipelines to preserve craftsmanship, and spatial planning with coordinated pollution control. The study provides a theoretically informed and empirically validated model for enhancing industrial resilience, offering actionable insights for the sustainable revitalization of coastal specialty industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fisheries Economics)

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