analyzing key legal–economic governance indicators in the sustainable development of the blue economy

The blue economy has become a central pathway for achieving sustainable development, requiring governance frameworks that balance economic growth, legal certainty, and environmental protection. however, the relative importance of legal–economic governance indicators in blue economy development is often unclear and subjectively assessed. this study aims to objectively analyze and weight key legal–economic governance indicators influencing the sustainable development of the blue economy using a data-driven approach. the research adopts an applied, descriptive–analytical quantitative design based on a case study. governance indicators were identified through a comprehensive literature review and policy analysis and validated by consultations with 17 experts in maritime law, industrial management, public policy, port and maritime transport, and marine environmental studies. the shannon entropy method was employed to calculate objective indicator weights based on information variability. the results indicate that marine ecosystem protection and pollution reduction are the most influential indicators, followed by regulatory transparency and legal liability management. these findings highlight the need for integrated governance frameworks that prioritize environmental and legal foundations to support sustainable blue economy development.