The development of Chinese land-raised seafood industry under Japanese nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea: considering the effects of government subsidy, consumer preference and product safety

In the context of Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge into the sea, land-raised seafood, as an important alternative to traditional seafood, plays a significant role in the continuous supply of high-quality protein and sustainable development of the fishing economy. However, the development of the land-raised seafood industry remains worldwide unsatisfactory. Based on the actual situation in China, this study constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model involving governments, fishing enterprises, and consumers to explore ways to promote the development of the land-raised seafood industry in China. Specifically, this study not only analyzed the impact of government subsidy on the development of the land-raised seafood industry but also examined the impact of consumers' safety preferences and the safety levels of seafood products on industry development. The results are as follows: (1) Government subsidy can promote the development of the land-raised seafood industry from both the production and consumption perspectives. (2) Moderate government subsidy is conducive to industry development. (3) Fishing enterprises and consumers have different sensitivities to government subsidies. (4) Both influencing factors, including increasing consumer preference for seafood safety and the gap in safety levels between land-raised and traditional seafood, have positively impacted the growth of the industry. The findings of this study provide both theoretical and practical guidance for government subsidy strategies, which could be helpful in the development of the land-raised seafood industry in China and other related countries.