Toward maritime sustainability in GCC countries: What role do economic freedom and human capital play?

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members have recently experienced rapid environmental degradation. Although there has been a boom in studies investigating the causes of environmental degradation, little is known about the drivers of maritime sustainability. This study examines the impacts of economic freedom and human capital on the fishing grounds footprint in GCC countries between 2000 and 2021. To account for potential heterogeneity and nonnormal distribution of the data, the study implements the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR). The empirical investigation suggests interesting findings. First, the analysis confirms the Marine Environmental Kuznets Curve across GCC countries, with a turning point of $38,177 per capita. In addition, the population has long-term detrimental effects on the fishing grounds footprint. Economic freedom and financial development have also deteriorated maritime sustainability, but only for low and medium quantiles. These factors are neutral for high levels of maritime degradation. Furthermore, improved human capital contributes to maritime sustainability in the long-run. Finally, the adverse repercussions of economic freedom are reduced by improved human capital and environmental awareness.