LAUSR

Abstract Since 2012, China has proposed to vigorously develop marine ranching. Analyzing the evolution of marine ranching policies is the key to improving the policy system and ensuring the sustainable development of marine ranching. Using a content analysis method and NVivo software to conduct a multidimensional empirical analysis on 51 marine ranching policy documents, the study found that marine ranching policies in China can be divided into three stages according to the time sequence: the initial stage, the slow development stage and the rapid development stage. China's marine ranching policy evolved gradually from single-subject policies with a simple structure to diversified policies with specialized content. The development of future marine ranching policy should prioritize ecology, focus on technology, and work towards the integration of policy with multi-industry needs.