Chiguana Fishery, Venezuela

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Chiguana is LISA. The resource is located at the lower end of the Gulf of Cariaco, just offshore from Chiguana, with depths not greater than 5 fathoms.

SCREENER:

Case: Chiguana, Venezuela

The information regarding the following common-pool resource system was taken from empirical evidence from a field setting. Data on the system was extracted from a thesis or dissertation. Currently, there are no additional documents to cite which may provide further information about this common-pool resource.

These documents describe one resource in detail. The primary resource is the Chiguana, situated in Chiguana of Venezuela. More generally, it is located in South America. The system's sector is that of fisheries. Relatively good information has been collected about the stakes of participants who appropriate from Chiguana. The condition of this resource is not well understood. Complete information is not available regarding the strategies used by key groups interacting with the system. There is thorough documentation of the operational rules for this resource. This is the result of a high level of confidence that the authors who recorded the features of Chiguana have a complete knowledge of its particulars. Furthermore, the authors have provided sufficient data to formulate a structured coding process.

There are less than 25 total appropriator teams appropriating from the resource .

Breton has examined the economic specialization (or lack of) in three coastal Venezuelan villages by comparing the importance of fishing to each village's economy (allocation of fishers' investment, crew formation and level of production, involvement in marketing). In Chiguana, villagers farm, raise cattle, and cut wood in addition to fishing; in Guacarapo they divide their efforts only between cattle rearing and fishing; and in Santa Fe there are many specialized fishers who work at nothing else. Sifting his data through the sieve of the Marxist notion of mode of production, Breton concludes that most of these fishers today are neither peasant nor capitalist, and that their future will depend on government protection from capitalist exploitation. (This study provides little information on rules, strategies, organization of appropriation, or condition of the fishery CPRs).

CITATION(S):

Breton, Yvan D. (1973) "A Comparative Study of Rural Fishing Communities in Eastern Venezuela: An Anthropological Explanation of Economic Specialization." Ph.D. dissertation, Michigan State University.*

RESOURCE INFO:

The resource appropriated from Chiguana is LISA. It is produced biologically and is a renewable moving (fugitive) unit. The resource is located at the lower end of the Gulf of Cariaco, just offshore from Chiguana, with depths not greater than 5 fathoms.

The boundary of this resource has natural/constructed attributes which do not limit entry. The boundaries of this resource are smaller than the location, and exist in one country, and are not divided among multiple general purpose local jurisdictions at a single level. The boundaries of this resource are independent of a development project designed by non-residents.

This study did not indicate whether or not there are distinct and stable micro-environmental or ecological zones within this resource . The case information did not indicate whether or not a variance in quality between zones has ever created conflict among appropriators.

There are not strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the LISA can be controlled (inferred). There is considerable, but unpredictable variation over space in the availability of LISA within the resource (inferred). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation in the flow of LISA within a single year (inferred). There is considerable, but unpredictable variation in the flow of LISA from year to year (inferred).

The bottom topography of Chiguana is primarily mud (highly confident).

The boundaries of the production resource and the boundaries of the appropriation resource overlap partially, but they are not equivalent. (educated guess). The boundaries of the production resource partially overlap the boundaries of the location, but the two boundaries are not equivalent (educated guess). The boundaries of the distribution resource and the boundaries of the appropriation resource overlap partially, but they are not equivalent (educated guess). The boundaries of the production resource have a relationship to the boundaries of the distribution resource that was not indicated in this case study.

LOCATION:

The appropriation resources are situated in Chiguana and its fishing grounds, located at the lower end of the Gulf of Cariaco, on the Gulf's northern shore, in Venezuela. The boundaries of the location are institutionally defined by the village and by the division of the grounds among villages by rules. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of LISA.

The system is located within one country. Within this country, the system's location is not divided among several general purpose local jurisdictions at the same level. A permanent population lives year round in this location (highly confident). There is frequent contact and communication between people in this location and officials in a nearby administrative center (inferred). This location is also characterized by an economy that is stable and tied to other economic networks during the entire time period (inferred).

The latitude of this location is 61.50'W, and its longitude is 10.50'N. The elevation of this location is 0 meters. The highest elevation is 0. The lowest elevation of this location is 0. The region's average annual rainfall is . The region's average annual evapotranspiration is . The distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration per month is as follows:

January precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

February precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

March precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

April precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

May precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

June precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

July precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

August precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

September precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

October precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

November precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

December precipitation: N/A, evapotraspiration: N/A

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Chiguana is LISA. The resource is located at the lower end of the Gulf of Cariaco, just offshore from Chiguana, with depths not greater than 5 fathoms.

OPERATIONAL LEVEL:

TYPE OF SITUATION

The processes described in the related documents are primarily related to appropriation alone. The formal owner(s) of the resource discussed in this study is a central government. The set of individuals who have rights to withdraw from this resource is well-defined. As of the beginning of this period, the owners are not indicated as either attempting, or failing to attempt to exercise access to this resource. Since the beginning of this period, the appropriators may be exercising or attempting to exercise closed access to this resource, however this information was not included in the study.

EVENTS MARKING THE BEGINNING ACTION SITUATION

It is estimated that the operational level coded on this form ended in 0. The estimated duration of the patterns that are described in this form is 26 to 50 years. Throughout the duration there was change made primarily by an external authority in operational, collective, or consititutional rules. There was no change in resource size or structure. There was no new technology introduced to the system over the duration of the patterns coded on this form. There was no substantial external change in the value of the units appropriated. The quantity of units available did not change due to a change in appropriation patterns of other appropriators' withdrawals from the same production or distribution resource. There were no new groups starting to withdraw units from the appropriation resource. There was no recorded change to one or more variables internal to the operational level. The variables that changed were -2. The author does not begin the description of this case at this point in history.

CONDITIONS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FORM*

For biological resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was moderately abundant (educated guess). For biological resources at the end of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was a moderate shortage (educated guess). For physical resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units was moderately abundant (educated guess). For physical resources at the end of the period the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units, was a moderate shortage (educated guess).

The following includes the available statistics on the use of this resource at the beginning of the time period, followed by the end of the time period:

Tons of fish harvested per year at the end of the period: 76

*In fisheries and other biological systems, this is the maximum sustainable number of units. In irrigation, this refers to the optimal water requirements of the crops in the established fields served by this system.

The information about how units are disposed at the beginning of the period is missing in this case.

The information about how units are disposed at the end of the period is missing in case.

As of the beginning of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was not included in the study. As of the end of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). At the beginning of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources, due to the way units are being appropriated (ambiguous). At the end of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources due to the way units are being appropriated (ambiguous). As of the beginning of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was quite low (ambiguous). As of the end of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was quite low (ambiguous). At the beginning of this period the appropriators shared moderate to high levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises given high credence) (ambiguous). At the end of the period the appropriators shared moderate to high levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises given high credence) (inferred). ## Unknown markup: Start ##By the end of this period no change had occurred in the property rights regime related to the appropriation resource (highly confident). At the end of this period there was no information provided as to whether or not owners are exercising or attempting to exercise closed access to this resource. At the end of the period there was no information in the study to indicate whether or not appropriators are exercising, or attempting to exercise, closed access to this resource.

INFORMATION LEVELS

There is no information in the study to indicate the availability of maps or charts of the appropration resource for use by the appropriators. Maps and/or charts of the production and distribution resources are not documented as being available, or unavailable in this case study. The appropriators of this resource can be seen by each other while withdrawing and delivering units (educated guess). No appropriators are in radio communication with each other while appropriating from the resource (educated guess). There was no information provided to indicate whether or not there are actions being taken, by appropriators or officials, to generate information about the condition of the resource. There are usually records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way (educated guess). There was no information in the study about whether or not there are records of the physical factors which directly affected the resource kept in a systematic way. Records are kept in a language accessible to most of the appropriators (ambiguous). The keepers of these records are officials at some level (ambiguous). The case study did not indicate whether or not these records are available for inspection by appropriators. There are arenas being used for the exchange of information about conditions of the resource (inferred). Appropriators get together to discuss mutual problems of the resource daily (inferred). The appropriators have an intimate knowledge of the characteristics of this resource (inferred).

POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND LEVELS OF CONTROL

The quality or quantity of the units available to the appropriators are adversely affected by the strategies of prior appropriators (inferred). There are problems of pollution resulting from activities of others who are not appropriators of this resource or inhabitants of this location (e.g. acid rain, sewage disposal) (inferred). Almost all appropriators sell this resource in multiple markets (educated guess). There does not appear to be an insurance mechanism available to the appropriators related to variability of income from the resource (educated guess).

PATTERNS OF INTERACTION

Differences between subgroups relating to gender identification does not exist (highly confident). Differences between subgroups relating to ethnic identification does not exist (highly confident). Differences between subgroups relating to clan identification does not affect communication (highly confident). Differences between subgroups relating to racial identification are small and created only mild communication problems (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to religious identification are not included in the case study. Differences between subgroups relating to languages spoken does not exist (highly confident). Differences between subgroups relating to general cultural views of the resource system and its use are not included in the case study. Differences between subgroups relating to any problems that affect communication are not included in the case study.

The general manner in which appropriators related to one another during this study is a relatively positive, reciprocal manner -- the presumption was made that long-term relationships are involved and positive actions are undertaken without a specific expectation of return (educated guess). The documents present evidence of specific types of cooperative activities between the appropriators related primarily to other local resources (educated guess). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that an official monitor or guard would move to impose sanctions (educated guess).

POSITIONS AND PARTICIPANTS

At the end of the period studied the position of non-appropriator (individuals prevented from using the resource) did not exist (inferred). At the beginning of the period there was a general estimate of some undocumented number appropriators. There was a general estimate of 25-50 appropriators at the end of the period (highly confident). A general estimate of the number of participants in the team appropriation process was not included in the case study, at the beginning of the period. A general estimate of the number of participants in the team appropriation process was Less than 25, at the end of the period (highly confident). The "official" position of monitor (apart from the willingness of all appropriators to monitor) does exist, and monitors are employees of an external governmental authority (educated guess). This position monitors rules devised by national collective choice processes (column 1 of the rules form).

The case study did not include information regarding whether or not the appropriators monitor the appropriation activities of each other apart from the monitoring of any "official" guards. The general estimate for the number of official monitors on duty at one time during peak hours was not included in this case study. The study did not indicate how many of the monitors were full-time.

NUMBER AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SUBGROUPS

There will be 1 subgroup form(s) completed in relation to this operational level form. The ID number(s) of the subgroup(s) coded are as follows: 65.1 - 0 - 0 - 0

EVALUATION OF RESULTS

The study did not indicate whether or not there are appropriators who were consistently disadvantaged in this period. The study did not indicate whether or not the relatively worst off appropriators have or have not been cut out of their benefits from this resource or substantially harmed.

AUTHOR'S EVALUATION AND CAUSAL ASSUMPTIONS

In this coding form the author does not focus on the readers' concept of results and the evaluation of results (educated guess).

The authors results pointed to general economic decline of the community and over-exploitation of natural resources including fisheries, forests, and farmland.

SUBGROUP:

Participants:

This appropriation group are the men of Chiguana who fish. The criteria for who is a member is well defined (inferred). . This group ended with a membership of 48 (highly confident).

The following statements characterize the composition of this subgroup's population with respect to variables that may affect the capacity to communicate effectively:

Gender identification causes no difference in composition (highly confident). Ethnic or cultural identification causes small differences in composition and mild communication problems (educated guess). There is no difference in composition with regard to languages spoken (highly confident). The language spoken by most members of the subgroup is Spanish.

The appropriation process is organized as a team process consisting of 8 groups.

Legal Rights:

Members of this subgroup have de jure rights of access (inferred). The right to withdraw is held by this subgroup de jure (inferred). Exlusion from use of the entire resource is not exercised either de facto nor de jure (educated guess). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is not held either by de jure nor de facto (educated guess). The separable rights to exercise transfer to shares of this appropriation resource, or closely related production and/or distribution resources are neither held de jure nor de facto (educated guess).

Stakes and Resources:

Around 91%-100% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (confident). Most people in this subgroup are moderately dependent (i.e. about half of the family income) on this resource (inferred). Around 91%-100% of this subgroup work a substantial amount of time in activities not associated with appropriation from this resource (confident). The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is less than 10% (inferred). Given the economy of the location, the average annual family income (including all non-monetary forms of income) is considered low (educated guess). The variance of the average annual family income across families is low (ambiguous). Capital is owned by 91%-100% of this subgroup (confident). No real alternatives for the supply unit are available (confident).

Potential Actions and Levels of Control:

A noticeable impact on the balance of the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available in this resource would occur in a drastic reduction of this subgroup's appropriation activities (inferred). Keeping in mind the physically available levels of withdrawal that are possible from this resource, the following shows the extent to which rules concerning different aspects of withdrawal constrain appropriation: technological rules cause unknown contraints, time limit rules cause unknown contraints, quantity rules cause unknown contraints, marginal units, or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation, cause unknown contraints.

Technology:

Strategies Adopted:

During this time period members have not invested resources, such as their own labor, in maintaining or improving the structure of the appropriation resource (educated guess). Investment into constructing or improving production or distribution works for maintaining or improving their resource has not been made by members (educated guess). In characterizing the usual behavior of the members of this subgroup with respect to local operation level rules-in-use (other than in extreme shortage), it can be said that almost all of the members follow the rules set in place (ambiguous).

Subgroup Results:

This subgroup appropriates 91%-100% of its total appropriated units at the end of this period (confident). By the end of this time period the appropriates from this resource have remained approximately constant (inferred).

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Chiguana is LISA. The resource is located at the lower end of the Gulf of Cariaco, just offshore from Chiguana, with depths not greater than 5 fathoms.

OPERATIONAL RULES:

Concerning national collective choice relating to the resource, the author provides a few detailed references to operational level rules as devised by national collective choice mechanisms which have been coded below. Concerning regional collective choice, the author provides NO information about operational level rules as devised by regional collective choice mechanisms, however a regional level of government does exist.

With regard to local collective choice, a level of government or organization of appropriators exists at the location but the author provides NO information about operational level rules as devised by collective choice mechanisms.

Boundary Rules

The following rules define the requirements that must be met before individuals are eligible to harvest or withdraw units from the appropriation resource.

A rule exists requiring citizenship of a country. This rule is enforced at the national and rules-in-use level(s).

A rule exists requiring citizenship of a major subdivision of a country. This rule is enforced at the national and rules-in-use level(s).

A rule exists requiring citizenship or residence of a local community. This rule is enforced at the national and rules-in-use level(s).

A rule exists requiring ownership or leasing of land in the location of the resource. This rule is enforced at the rules-in-use level(s).

A rule exists requiring completion of a particular level of education in order to appropriate. This rule is enforced at the national level(s).

A rule exists requiring an appropriator to be of a certain gender. This rule is enforced at the rules-in-use level(s).

A rule exists requiring an appropriator to obtain a license for entry or for equipment in order to appropriate. This rule is enforced at the national level(s).

Authority and Scope Rules

The default conditions for both authority and scope rules do not apply.

The following paragraphs include information on rules of 1 cycle(s).

Authority Rules:

There is a rule requiring withdrawal at specific locations or spots, based on technology used. This rule is enforced at the national level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

There is a rule permitting withdrawal whenever and wherever desired, based on unspecific criteria. This rule is enforced at the rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

The authority and scope rules do not apply to whether or not certain subgroups received substantially unequal privileges, because there is only one subgroup.

Scope Rules:

Information Rules

Payoff Rules

The default condition, that all appropriators can retain whatever they can physically keep hold of and no external rewards, taxes, or sanctions are imposed is not imposed in this case. The authors have the following confidence level for the results of this section: inferred. Appropriators are not party to price support contracts or guaranteed purchase agreements for the selling of resource units or commodities produced by resource units.

There is a single arrangement by which the appropriation process is organized by teams.The following percentages indicate the percentages assigned to individual positions. If more than one percentage is listed per position, the individual percentages refer to the different arrangements existing within the operational rules.

Owner(s) (non-operator(s)) of primary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Owner(s) - operators(s) of primary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Owner(s) (non-operator(s)) of supplementary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Owner(s) - operator(s) of supplementary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Crew with special assets (including non-owner captain):

0%; 0%; 0%

Regular crew (each):

0%; 0%; 0%

Other:

0%; 0%; 0%

Owners of boats and nets receive 2/12 of catch, crew (which includes participating owners) receive 1/12 of catch. The percentage that each position receives varies depending on the number of owners and crewmembers on a team.

Aggregation Rules

Overall Questions About Rules Configuration

The general framework of the rules-in-use has governed the activities of this subgroup for 26 to 50 years.