Interactions between fishers and communities: Civil answers to global problems

Sustainable use of fisheries resources was difficult in ancient times, remains elusive in the modern age and will continue to be a problem in the foreseeable future. This thesis brings together bioeconomic theory with the literature on rational choice and collective action to develop quantitative models of the interactions between fishers and the communities. The purpose is to initiate a new line of inquiry into the feasibility of positive civil intervention in fisheries management. After all, it is the growth in demand for fish that drives harvests beyond biologically sustainable limits. Although the models presented are of simplified ideal-types, they do shed light on states' inability to prevent overfishing as well as their tendency to protect coastal resources from outsiders. Furthermore, consumers and conservationist may have a greater role to play in future fisheries management, as information becomes easier to access and the actual limits of fish production become clearer.