Advancing marine economic development through the new development philosophy: implications for aquaculture and fisheries

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “Throughout the history of world economic development, an obvious track is from the land to the ocean, and move toward the world, be prosperity through the ocean”. Marine aquaculture and fisheries, as core components of the marine economy and critical aquatic food production systems, play a pivotal role in ensuring food security, promoting coastal livelihoods, and advancing ecological civilization. Against the backdrop of China’s convergence with the two centenary goals, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China highlighted the importance of high-quality development and the new development philosophy, which provides a fundamental framework for the transformation of marine aquaculture and fisheries. This thematic review focuses on marine aquaculture and capture fisheries, linking the new development philosophy (innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, sharing) to aquatic food system sustainability. By analyzing the current status, structural changes, and key constraints of China’s marine aquaculture and fisheries (including technological bottlenecks, ecological pressures, regional imbalances, and livelihood challenges), and drawing on international experiences from leading aquaculture regions, this paper proposes targeted pathways for sustainable development. The study aims to bridge policy goals with practical applications in aquaculture and fisheries science, providing insights for researchers, managers, and policymakers both in China and globally.