Evolution of marine ecology-industry symbiosis patterns and ecological security assessment: New evidence from coastal areas of China

Abstract

Marine ecological security is an important precondition and foundation for the development of marine business. Scientific and effective assessment of marine ecological security is of great significance for promoting the sustainable development of marine economy and building an ecological civilization. Based on the symbiosis theory, this paper focuses on the key role of human economic activities in the evolution of ecological security from the perspective of eco-industrial symbiosis and constructs a symbiotic system of indicators considering human economic activities and all subsystems with the help of the “Driver-Pressur-State-Impact -Response (DPSIR) model” analysis logic. This paper adopts the Lotka-Volterra symbiosis model to dynamically analyze the causes of the symbiotic coupling relationship of marine ecological security in China's coastal areas from 2006 to 2019. The research results show that the socio-economic development index shows a stable upward trend, the environmental capacity index basically remains stable, and the ecological impact index shows a fluctuating and undulating trend. During the sample period, there were only four modes of mutualism symbiosis, ecological single damage, industrial single damage, and mutual harm symbiosis in coastal areas. Hebei, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan provinces are dominated by the optimal ecological security state. Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian are mainly in the security transition area; Shandong and Liaoning provinces are in a state of ecological security dominated by non-safe areas. Finally, relevant policy suggestions are put forward, in order to provide decision-making reference for improving marine ecological security and promoting the healthy development of the marine industry.