Sufficient and Necessary Conditions Driving Mariculture Development: A Comparative Study of China, Vietnam and India

In the face of growing demand for marine nutrition and restrictions on wild fish capture, mariculture offers significant potential to enhance marine food production. The natural environment directly influences the growth of marine organisms, but socio-economic conditions are equally critical for sustainable and efficient development. This study investigated the multifaceted factors shaping mariculture in China, Vietnam, and India. We analyzed the natural environment and social economy qualitatively and quantitatively by adopting zonal statistics, chart analysis, and correlation analysis. Results show that all three countries generally possess suitable marine environments for the growth of cultured species. Meanwhile, China and Vietnam demonstrate how robust socio-economic systems and strategic policy support drive successful mariculture development, whereas India’s comparatively underdeveloped socio-economic foundation appears to constrain its sectoral advancement. These analyses suggest a principle: the natural environment is the necessary condition and the social economy serves as the sufficient condition, together determining the state of mariculture. Our study highlights the joint role of environmental suitability, socio-economic readiness, and policy frameworks, providing valuable insights for identifying potential mariculture sites and informing policy strategies to promote sustainable marine aquaculture globally.