Trade‐Offs Between Economic Gains and Ecological Goals: Impact of Marine Ecological Policy on Marine Fisheries Efficiency

ABSTRACT Balancing marine economic development with ecological protection has been a common challenge for coastal countries. Taking the construction of marine ecological civilization demonstration zones as an example, we conducted a study based on panel data from 42 coastal cities in China between 2003 and 2022. Using a difference‐in‐differences model, we examined its impact effects and mechanisms on marine fisheries, aiming to offer valuable insights for promoting the development and conservation of marine resources. The results indicate that, first, the establishment of these zones inhibited the growth of local marine fishery economic efficiency, and this finding remains robust across a series of checks. Second, the policy effects show clear heterogeneity; coastal cities adjacent to the South China Sea, with greater governmental attention to environmental protection and higher levels of rural education, experienced milder transitional pressures in the fishery sector. Third, improvements in agricultural innovation and the advancement of rural informatization helped reduce short‐term economic costs in pilot cities and enhanced their performance in marine cultivation and fishery sustainability. Based on a global perspective and China's practice, we proposed three management implications: (1) establish an inclusive and resilient marine governance framework; (2) implement differentiated development paths based on regional comparative advantages; (3) build a multi‐stakeholder, collaborative governance model.