Legal progress and prospects of marine ranching in China

Marine ranching has emerged as an important governance instrument for marine ecosystem restoration and the sustainable enhancement of fisheries within the contemporary global ocean governance paradigm. Against this background, this study examines the evolution, institutional structure, and governance challenges of China’s marine ranching legal system. Methodologically, the study employs normative legal analysis, policy text analysis, and comparative institutional analysis. It systematically reviews national legislation, administrative regulations, departmental rules, technical standards, and local regulations concerning marine ranching, and further compares China’s institutional framework with relevant governance experiences in the United States, Japan, and Norway. The findings indicate that China has gradually developed a policy-driven governance framework for marine ranching, supported by national marine ranching demonstration zones, technical standards, and local legislative initiatives. However, the existing legal system continues to face several structural constraints, including a relatively low legislative hierarchy, fragmented regulatory authority, incomplete life-cycle supervision mechanisms, and insufficient institutionalization of ecological responsibilities. Comparative experience suggests that the sustainability of marine ranching depends not only on technological development but also on stable legal frameworks and well-coordinated regulatory mechanisms. Accordingly, this study argues that China should strengthen national-level legislation, improve cross-departmental coordination, and incorporate ecological accountability into legally binding governance structures, thereby enhancing both the ecological sustainability and institutional governance capacity of marine ranching.