Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery is lobster. The resource discussed in the following study is the Pagesville fishing grounds (p.13 for map). The boundary is natural and artifactual; it includes harbors and islands, but it is also based on customary usage.

SCREENER:

Case: Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery, Canada

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 two resources in detail. The primary resource is the Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery, situated in Port Lameron - Pagesville of Canada. More generally, it is located in North America. The system's sector is that of fisheries. Relatively good information has been collected about the stakes of participants who appropriate from Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery. The condition of this resource is well understood. Complete information is 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 Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery have a complete knowledge of its particulars. Furthermore, the authors have provided sufficient data to formulate a structured coding process.

There are 25-50 total appropriator teams appropriating from the resource . At the beginning of the period discussed by the authors, there was a moderately abundant supply of biological and physical resources withdrawn compared to the number of units available. Appropriator teams for the resource are sometimes formally organized.

The fisheries of Port Lameron Harbor on the southern edge of Nova Scotia include lobster and demersal fish. The fishermen cooperate to control access to and appropriation from both of these resources. Pagesville (pseudonym) is a small coastal village near Port Lameron and Cape Sable Island; inshore fishing (mixed finfish and lobster) is the economic mainstay. Because gear such as depth finders has increased the fishers' knowledge of their fishing/lobstering grounds, they are now able to find more fish/lobsters and the resource is under some stress. Nevertheless, a collaborative spirit prevails among Pagesville fishers, who willingly share bait and fishing information with others from their port (outsiders, however, are not treated so generously), because cooperation and ties with the collectivity enhance an individual's chances at a good day's fishing. Sanctions include a bad reputation, loss of economic and communication ties, treatment as an economic outsider. Territoriality exists and, Davis posits, it is a function of fluctuating ecological relationships which determine the occurrence and abundance of species the market considers important.

CITATION(S):

Davis, Anthony (1984) "Property Rights and Access Management in the Small Boat Fishery: A Case Study from Southwest Nova Scotia." In ATLANTIC FISHERIES AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES: FISHERIES DECISION-MAKING CASE STUDIES, edited by Cynthia Lamson and Arthur J. Hanson, 133-164. Halifax: Dalhousie Ocean Studies Programme.

Davis, Adam F. A. (1975) THE ORGANIZATION OF PRODUCTION AND MARKET RELATIONS IN A NOVA SCOTIAN INSHORE FISHING COMMUNITY. University of Manitoba Anthropology Papers No. 16. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Department of Anthropology. [ILL: University of Manitoba; HD 8039 .F66 C23]*

RESOURCE INFO:

The resource appropriated from Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery is lobster. It is produced biologically and is a renewable stationary unit. The resource discussed in the following study is the Pagesville fishing grounds (p.13 for map). The boundary is natural and artifactual; it includes harbors and islands, but it is also based on customary usage.

The boundary of this resource has natural/constructed and institutional arrangements 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.

There are distinct and stable micro-environmental or ecological zones within this resource (highly confident). The quality and/or quantity of units is regularly better in some of the zones than in others (highly confident). The case information did not indicate whether or not a variance in quality between zones has ever created conflict among appropriators.

There are natural barriers within the resource, and they coincide with microzones (highly confident). There are not strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the lobster can be controlled (highly confident). There is considerable, and predictable variation over space in the availability of lobster within the resource (highly confident). There is considerable, and predictable variation in the flow of lobster within a single year (inferred). There is considerable, but unpredictable variation in the flow of lobster from year to year (inferred).

The bottom topography of Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery is primarily gravel (educated guess).

LOCATION:

The appropriation resources are situated in the villages of "Pagesville", "Brazil", "East Brazil" and "West Brazil", the Pagesvillle harbor and the fishing grounds that extend to the Half Moons to the northeast, the Brazil Rocks to the south, and the Bantam Rocks to the west. The boundaries of the location are both natural and institutional including villages and customary boundaries in the water, and natural harbors and islands. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of demersal fish - haddock, cod, pollack (coding), as well as lobster.

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 (ambiguous). This location is also characterized by an economy that is stable and tied to other economic networks during the entire time period (educated guess).

The latitude of this location is not specified, and its longitude is not specified. 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 Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery is lobster. The resource discussed in the following study is the Pagesville fishing grounds (p.13 for map). The boundary is natural and artifactual; it includes harbors and islands, but it is also based on customary usage.

OPERATIONAL LEVEL:

TYPE OF SITUATION

The processes described in the related documents are primarily related to appropriation and use. 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 are exercising (or attempting to exercise de facto) closed access to this resource.

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. The author begins at this point in history because -2.

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 a moderate shortage (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 a moderate shortage (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:

It is not indicated whether or not the units were sexually mature at this size or age at the beginning of this period. It is not indicated whether or not the units were sexually mature at this size or age at the end of this period.

*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.

At the beginning of the period, the units were predominantly sold in external markets.

At the end of the period, the units were predominantly sold in external markets.

As of the beginning of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was high (educated guess). As of the end of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was high (educated guess). At the beginning of the period of the study, there was no information provided regarding whether or not there are problems of pollution in this or other resources, due to the way units are being appropriated. At the end of the period of the study, there was no information provided in the case study regarding whether or not there are problems of pollution in this or other resources due to the way units are appropriated. 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 (inferred). 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 (inferred). At the beginning of this study, the interference between the appropriation technology for this resource and the appropriation processes for other resources in this location was not recorded in the case information. At the end of this study, the interference between the appropriation technology for this resource and the appropriation processes for other resources in this location was not recorded in the case information. At the beginning of this period the appropriators shared moderate to high levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises given high credence) (inferred). 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 (inferred). At the end of this period the owners were not exercising, nor attempting to exercise closed access to this resource (educated guess). At the end of the period the appropriators were exercising, or attempting to exercise, de facto closed access to this resource (educated guess).

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 appropriation resource do not differ from the production and distribution resource (inferred). The appropriators of this resource can be seen by each other while withdrawing and delivering units (highly confident). Most appropriators are in radio communication with each other while appropriating from the resource (highly confident). 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 always records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way (highly confident). 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 (highly confident). The keepers of these records are officials at some level (highly confident). These records are available for inspection by appropriators (highly confident). There are arenas being used for the exchange of information about conditions of the resource (highly confident). Appropriators get together to discuss mutual problems of the resource daily (highly confident). The appropriators have an intimate knowledge of the characteristics of this resource (highly confident).

POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND LEVELS OF CONTROL

The quality or quantity of the units available to the appropriators are not adversely affected by the strategies of prior appropriators, because there are no prior appropriators (inferred). This study did not include information on whether or not 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). Almost all appropriators sell this resource in one market (inferred). There appears to be an insurance mechanism available to the appropriators related to variability of income from the resource (inferred).

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 racial identification does not exist (highly confident). 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 does not exist (highly confident). 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 (highly confident). The documents present evidence of specific types of cooperative activities between the appropriators related primarily to other local resources (highly confident). If someone violated the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that he/she would encounter social sanctions imposed by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (educated guess). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that he/she would encounter physical sanctions by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (educated guess). There is a moderate range of sanctions imposed depending on rule infractions and in regard to social, physical, and official 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 25-50, at the end of the period (highly confident). The "official" position of monitor (apart from the willingness of all appropriators to monitor) is not described in detail in this case study.

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: 89.1 - 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 author's results include an evaluation of ownership of equipment, a monopoly in marketing, the number of fishers in relation to size of the resource, fishers being turned into prolitariat, governmental activity, ecological environment, and marketing structure. The author does not capture the concepts of the results. The author discusses withdrawals per unit of effort based on -1

SUBGROUP:

Participants:

This appropriation group are the group of men who fish for lobster. The criteria for who is a member is well defined (inferred). . This group ended with a membership of 29 (highly confident). An estimated 91%-100% of this group is literate in a language that records or publications about this resource and/or location (or other similar resources) is kept (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 no difference in composition (highly confident). There is no difference in composition with regard to languages spoken (highly confident). The language spoken by most members of the subgroup is English.

The appropriation process is organized as a team process consisting of 19 groups.

Legal Rights:

Members of this subgroup have de jure rights of access (highly confident). The right to withdraw is held by this subgroup de jure (highly confident). Rights to participate in management of this resource is held de facto (educated guess). Exclusion from use of the entire resource is exercised de facto (educated guess). Members of this subgroup have de facto rights to decide who can be excluded from particular zones within the resource. (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). Transferring shares of major appropriation equipment which are necessary to engage in appropriation is not exercised either je jure nor de facto## Unknown column: EQUIPSHAR ##.

Stakes and Resources:

The length of time this subgroup has regularly appropriated from this resource is 101 through 200 years (educated guess). Around 91%-100% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (highly confident). Given the assets of members, the capital required to set up an appropriation team does not place pressure upon the appropriators to get immediate returns from appropriation (educated guess). Most people in this subgroup are moderately dependent (i.e. about half of the family income) on this resource (educated guess). Around 91%-100% of this subgroup work a substantial amount of time in activities not associated with appropriation from this resource (highly confident). The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is less than 10% (highly confident). The variance of the average annual family income across families is low (inferred). Capital is owned by 91%-100% of this subgroup (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 heavily constrain (inferred), time limits which limit the range of choice heavily constrain (inferred), quantity rules cause unknown contraints, marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a high value immediate return (inferred).

Technology:

The most recent technological change experienced by this subgroup was 51-75 years ago (educated guess). Considering other technologies that have not changed, this technology has been in use for 101-200 years (educated guess). The appropriative power of the technology used does not threaten the balance between units withdrawn and units available even if no new users are added (inferred).

Strategies Adopted:

At the end of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was constant (educated guess). During this time period members have not invested resources, such as their own labor, in maintaining or improving the structure of the appropriation resource (inferred). Members do not have access to an alternative source of supply (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 (inferred). Attempting to alter the behavior of appropriators, members of this group have threatened or actually used violence to enforce compliance with existing rules.

Subgroup Results:

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

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Port Lameron - Pagesville Lobsterfishery is lobster. The resource discussed in the following study is the Pagesville fishing grounds (p.13 for map). The boundary is natural and artifactual; it includes harbors and islands, but it is also based on customary usage.

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 and the author provides a few detailed references about operational level rules as devised by collective choice mechanisms which have been coded below.

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, local, and rules-in-use level(s).

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

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

A rule exists permitting membership in an organization. This rule is enforced at the national level(s).

A rule exists requiring membership in an organization. This rule is enforced at the local 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 local and rules-in-use level(s).

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

A rule exists requiring use of a particular technology. This rule is enforced at the national, local, and 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, local, and rules-in-use level(s).

An entry fee or license is required or permitted and the upper limit of licenses issued severely restricts the number of potential appropriators who could appropriate from this resource.

The sum of the fees and licenses is high given the resources of most of the appropriators.

Entry rights may be transmitted to anyone designated by the original owner.

Within one generation of potential resource appropriators, entry rights can be given, leased, rented, sold or transferred to others.

When transfer on a temporary or permanent basis is allowed, the person who makes the transfer determines to whom such rights can be transferred.

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 only during specific seasons, set annually/periodically by an external public official. This rule is enforced at the national, local, and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

The length of the withdrawing season is 24 week(s)..

There is a rule requiring withdrawal at specific locations or spots, according to the "first in time - first in right" principle. This rule is enforced at the local and 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:

There is a rule requiring a periodically assessed appropriation tax, set annually/periodically by an external public official. This rule is enforced at the national, local, and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

Information Rules

There exists a rule requiring recording of the number of units withdrawn. This rule is enforced at the national, local, and rules-in-use level(s).

This information was recorded by a private enterprise.

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. Severe community shunning is used for an unstated duration of time as a sanction that is consciously imposed on appropriators who break rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Appropriators can obtain external aid from a national (private or public) agency(s) to develop their appropriation technologies. 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) - operators(s) of primary appropriation equipment:

0.75%

Regular crew (each):

0.25%

Aggregation Rules

Overall Questions About Rules Configuration