Folk Management among Belizean Lobster Fisherman: Success and Resilience or Decline and Depletion

Data from Northern Fisherman Cooperative Society annual reports suggest that fishermen from Caye Caulker, Belize, use a local management system, based on traditional territories, that limits access to these fishing areas. By these means, they have produced lobster tails at a stable rate for 30+ year...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human organization 1997-01, Vol.56 (4), p.418-426
Main Author: King, Thomas D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Belize
Co-operatives
Fisheries
Fishermen
Fishery management
Fishing
Fishing Communities
Folk Culture
Management Styles
Tourism
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Summary:Data from Northern Fisherman Cooperative Society annual reports suggest that fishermen from Caye Caulker, Belize, use a local management system, based on traditional territories, that limits access to these fishing areas. By these means, they have produced lobster tails at a stable rate for 30+ years. However, recent observation & interview data suggest that this seemingly effective local management system may be beginning to teeter. Many factors are shifting the nature of tenure & access to fishing areas in the lobster fishery around Caye Caulker. Discussed here are changing territorial tenure patterns, fishermen's children's emigration from the cay, & tourism development. Though these factors are defining characteristics of success among villagers, they are also threatening the resilience of this folk management system. 2 Figures, 28 References. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:0018-7259