Assessment of Changes in Environmental Factors Affecting Aquaculture Production and Fisherfolk Incomes in China between 2010 and 2020

Abstract

The vast expanse of China’s land surface results in the country’s environment varying from region to region. Environmental changes impact on China’s industries, markets, and trade, indirectly affecting not only the country’s economy but also the people who depend on aquaculture resources. Regional differentiation leads to an imbalance that severely affects social fairness and equity, which becomes a key factor limiting the sustainable development of the economy and society. Analysis and assessment of the changes in environmental factors affecting aquaculture production and fisherfolk’s income in 31 regions of China between 2010 and 2020 aim to provide a reference for regional differentiation in the economic development of aquaculture in the different regions in China, representing an essential step towards achieving the coordinated development of rural regional areas. This study’s assessment and analysis procedures adopted the principal component analysis method. The findings suggest that regional differences in Chinese fisherfolk’s income and the environmental factors affecting China’s aquaculture production are veritable. There have been subtle changes in regional differentiation over a decade. It is necessary to implement contextualized environmental management measures, concessionary taxation, and additional subsidies to address the different characteristics of China’s different regions for the future development of environmental management and narrowing the income gap, to address both the income disparities in Chinese fisherfolk’s income and environmental factors affecting Chinese aquaculture production, to achieve the harmonious development of rural regional areas.