The Impact of the Digital Economy on Sustainable Fisheries: Insights from Green Total Factor Productivity in China’s Coastal Regions

The digital economy has emerged as a transformative force, creating new opportunities for sustainable development, especially within the marine fisheries sector. This study examines the impact of the digital economy on the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of fisheries in China’s coastal regions from 2011 to 2022. Using panel data from 11 coastal provinces, we employ the Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model and the Global Malmquist–Luenberger (GML) index to assess GTFP and analyze the effects of digital economic development. Our findings indicate the following: (1) the digital economy significantly enhances fishery GTFP, improving both resource efficiency and environmental sustainability; (2) the impact varies across regions, reflecting notable regional heterogeneity in digital infrastructure and adoption; and (3) a threshold effect exists, whereby the influence of the digital economy on GTFP varies depending on the level of digital economic development. This research underscores the dual role of digital technologies in boosting fisheries’ economic productivity while promoting greener, more sustainable practices. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers aiming to integrate digital transformation into the sustainable development of marine fisheries.