Coordinated Development of Marine Economy and Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas of China: Development Level, Coupling Coordination Measurement, and Obstacle Analysis

Ying Zhang, Zhiqiang Fang () and Zhongqi Xie
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Ying Zhang: School of Humanities and Law, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Zhiqiang Fang: Yanshan University Press, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Zhongqi Xie: School of Humanities and Law, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: The ecological environment (EE) is an important factor affecting the sustainable development of the marine economy (ME): achieving coordinated development between the ME and EE remains a problem to be explored. From three perspectives—comprehensive development level, coupling coordination degree spatiotemporal analysis, and obstacle degree recognition—this paper explores the development level and spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of ME and EE coupling coordination in 11 coastal areas in China from 1999 to 2019. The results indicate the following: (1) During the research period, the comprehensive development levels of the ME and EE in China’s coastal areas continued to improve, with relatively high levels of economic structure subsystems and pressure subsystems. (2) There was a clear coupling relationship between the ME and EE, with a high degree of coupling, mainly consisting of high-quality coupling and good coupling. The increase in coupling coordination was significant, especially in Guangdong, Shandong, and Liaoning. (3) The analysis of the obstacle degree found that the crucial obstacle elements affecting the coordinated development of the ME and EE included the ME vitality subsystem and the EE response subsystem. Finally, policy suggestions are put forward, including promoting the development of an ecotype ME, promoting marine technology innovation, and adopting differentiated EE governance policies according to local conditions. This study helps evaluate the development capacity of the ME in China’s coastal areas and provides a basis for formulating targeted ME development strategies.

Keywords: marine economy; ecological environment; coupling and coordination; obstacle degree (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:9122-:d:1164338

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