A Study On Marine Economic Integration In Regional Level

In view of the increasing burden which was loaded to land, space and environment by rapid growth of economy and continuous expansion of population, human being has shifted their eyeshot from social and economic development to sea areas with rich resources and vast geographical territory. The competition of international sea rights and marine economy is becoming more crucial. Both the exploration of oceanic resources and the development of marine economy has been playing important role in the development of social economy strategy. Since 1950s, marine economy has experienced rapid growth, and marine industries developed so quickly that it has become a critical part and new growth point of the capital economy of the seaside nations (regions). Meanwhile, the marine economy of our country has made enormous development as well. In the last decade, the marine economy of our country developed quickly, which is prior to the national economy growth rate of the same period.With the accelerated development of the economic globalization and integration of regional economy, regional or urban agglomeration has become a space unit of the global competition and cooperation instead of single region or city. The marine economy competition among coastal nations is correspondingly replaced with the integration contest for marine economy between regions. The integration of regional economy, which is to enhance the overall economic competitiveness and establish a harmonious sea area, has become a hot topic of scholars. The existing research of regional marine economic integration is focused on the description of marine resources, marine industries and quantitative assessment. However, this article is emphasized on the mode and mechanism analysis of integration of regional marine economy.The Yangtze River Delta economic zone is one of China's three major agglomeration zones, which is also an important spatial unit in the global marine economic competition and cooperation. The research on the foundation, mode and mechanism of regional marine economy integration not only is the scientific basis for establishing development strategy and harmonious development of Yangtze River Delta marine economy, but also can enhance its efficiency of spatial organization and upgrade the overall economic competitiveness of regional marine economy. Therefore, it is the research that can promote Shanghai's international shipping center, as well as economic, financial and trading center. The research might upgrade the status and the role of Yangtze River Delta city group in the world urban system as well. Furthermore, on the basis of resource, industry and the integration framework of spatial regional marine economy in this thesis may have great theoretical significance for the marine economic integration of other coastal regions.It is hoped that the thesis may ultimately realize two targets: firstly, constructing the general research framework of regional marine economic integration. Secondly, answering several questions, such as "why Yangtze River Delta marine economy is integrated", "which mode is suit for the integration of marine economy in Yangtze River Delta", and "what is its inherent mechanism".There are seven chapters in the thesis, which can be divided into two major parts: theoretical analysis and case study. The first three chapters are the theoretical analysis, in which the fundamental framework of economic integration of regional marine has been constructed, through reviewing and analyzing the relational literatures and theory at home and abroad. The following four chapters are about case study, which explored the international modes, mechanism and approaches of maritime economy in the Yangtze River Delta.Chapter One: Introduction. In this part, the author elaborates the background and significance of topics, as well as the ideas, the basic framework, research methods and major innovations of the research.Chapter Two: Related Literature Review. In this part, some basic concepts such as marine economy, marine industries and economic integration for regional ocean, are defined. Simultaneously, the author made the comparison of the similarities and differences between the concepts and integration. The relational research literatures for marine economy and regional integration at home and abroad are reviewed.Chapter Three: The basic Structure of Economic Integration for Regional Ocean. In the chapter, the author reviewed the main ideas for the theory of spatial regional organization, the theory of regional industrial structure, regional development theory, land and sea integration, economic integration and sustainable development theory, and sets out their important roles in economic integration. Its general framework is structured from the perspectives of marine resources, marine industries and space.Chapter Four: The Yangtze River Delta Development of Marine Economy and Existing Problems. In this chapter, the development of the Yangtze River Delta marine resources, marine industries and special pattern are analyzed, and its existing problems are expounded.Chapter Five: The Yangtze River Delta Integration Modes of Marine Economy. The author analyses its foundation, and puts forward the basic ideas of the Yangtze River delta economic integration. Its basic models, which are the integration model of marine fisheries based on value chain, the integration model of the game between competitiveness and cooperation of maritime port group, the integration model of marine shipbuilding industrial clusters, the resources-cultural integration model of costal tourism, are elaborated.Chapter Six: The Yangtze River Delta Integration Mechanism. Firstly, the connotation and extension of the mechanism were elaborated. Secondly, the author analyzed the integration causes for marine economy and main factors. At last, the integration mechanism of marine fishery, marine shipbuilding, maritime transportation and coastal tourism.Chapter Seven: Conclusions and Suggestions. By summarizing the full context of the thesis, the main conclusions of the paper are extracted. Several Countermeasures are raised for the Yangtze River Delta integration of marine economy, and the prospects of the integration of oceanic economy in the Yangtze River Delta are put forward with.