Investment risks and control measures in aquaculture projects – based on PEST analysis

Aquaculture has emerged as a pivotal sector in addressing global food security, promoting rural development, and supporting sustainable economic growth, especially in coastal and developing regions of China. However, investment projects in aquaculture are increasingly exposed to multifaceted risks stemming from dynamic external environments. This study employs the PEST (political, economic, social, and technological) analysis framework to systematically identify, categorize, and analyze these external risks. Through a combination of policy reviews, expert interviews, and industry data analysis, this paper provides a comprehensive risk profile across four dimensions: policy uncertainty and regulatory constraints, economic volatility and market competition, social resistance and labor shortages, and technological gaps and disease vulnerability. Based on the PEST analysis, a set of tailored risk mitigation strategies is proposed, including policy adaptation, financial hedging, community engagement, and technological upgrading. The findings not only offer a structured approach to investment risk assessment in aquaculture projects in China but also provide practical recommendations for stakeholders seeking to enhance project resilience, improve investment efficiency, and achieve long-term sustainability. This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on aquaculture economics and risk governance by offering a macro-environmental perspective grounded in empirical insight.