Marine fishery carbon emission reduction and changing factors behind marine fishery eco-efficiency growth in China

Abstract

The accurate assessment of marine fisheries' carbon emissions (MFCE) and the identification of spatial and temporal variation in marine fisheries eco-efficiency (MFEE) and its drivers under the carbon emission reduction constraint can facilitate high-quality development and the achievement of the ‘carbon neutrality’ goal. Current assessments of MFEE exclude carbon emissions and focus on single-factor methodologies, which limit their utility in guiding emission reduction strategies. In this study, using provincial data on carbon emissions from marine fisheries from 2008 to 2021, we constructed a model of undesired output emission efficiency through a directional distance function to determine the undesired output emission reduction potential of each province. The global Malmquist–Luenberger (GML) model was also used to explore the spatial and temporal trends of MFCE and MFEE in China and the drivers influencing MFEE growth. Different mechanisms underlying the MFEE growth in three major marine economic zones were investigated. The results show that (1) MFCE is declining, with carbon sources from marine fisheries showing a decline and carbon sinks showing rapid growth. The year 2015 was an important turning point for carbon emissions from marine fisheries. (2) The level of carbon emission potential of marine fisheries differed among Chinese coastal provinces and cities during the study period, and the three major marine economic circles belonged to different types of carbon emission reduction potential. Under the carbon emission reduction constraint, the MFEE values showed a fluctuating upward trend with significant differences in growth rates and power sources, while pure technical efficiency drove the optimal development of eco-efficiency. (3) The marine economy, resource use, industrial structure, environmental regulation, and science and technology improve MFEE, whereas the degree of openness to the outside world negatively impacts MFEE; the trend of high-quality development of marine fisheries under the carbon emission reduction constraint is positive.