Incentive policies for transboundary marine spatial planning: an evolutionary game theory-based analysis

Area of Science:

• Marine spatial planning
• Ecosystem-based management
• Transboundary governance

Background:

• Marine spatial planning (MSP) facilitates ecosystem-based management (EBM) for oceans, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14.
• Existing research identifies obstacles and enablers for transboundary marine spatial planning (TMSP) but lacks analysis of their impact on government decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the factors influencing government decision-making in transboundary marine spatial planning (TMSP).
• To examine the interactions between Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou (XZQ) governments, the Kinmen government, and a transboundary institution in the Xiamen-Kinmen Sea area.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes evolutionary game theory to model interactions between governmental actors.
• Employs numerical simulation to assess the impact of influencing factors on actor behaviors.

Main Results:

• Initial probabilities significantly affect TMSP stability.
• Net benefits incentivize participation, while eco-environmental losses highlight the urgency for collaboration.
• High transaction costs reduce government willingness to participate; an allocation coefficient below 0.9 is optimal.

Conclusions:

• Provides insights into implementing EBM and designing incentive policies for TMSP in shared waters.
• Offers a reference for the Xiamen-Kinmen Sea area and other regions engaging in transboundary marine governance.