Assessment of marine ecosystem health and its key influencing factors in Laizhou Bay, China

Introduction Major bays worldwide have been disturbed by human pressures to varying degrees in recent years, resulting many ecological and environmental issues. Maintaining the health of bay ecosystem has national international significances, as it enhances regulation function resource development value region. This study aims examine evolution trend regulatory mechanism Laizhou Bay (LZB), China. Methods A comprehensive DPSIR-based indicator framework is established, comprising 40 representative indicators natural environment status, service function, social values LZB ecosystem. The subjective objective integrated weighting method applied determine weight. Ecosystem Health Index then calculated assess from 1980 2019 key influencing factors are identified through scenario analysis. Results results show that status fluctuated increased overall over past with a fairly healthy state 1980s, an unhealthy 2005, rebound subhealthy state. affecting mostly pressure items, land-based pollution, particularly agricultural non-point source having more significant impact than reclamations. Discussion Reasonable recommendations finally put forward on improving area, including refining legislation related regional management, building coordinated land-sea governance system exploring new technologies for marine management. fills knowledge gap assessment entire such long-time scale, research outcomes expected provide scientific references guidance decision-making social-economic sustainable other bays.