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Abstract:
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"The degree of heterogeneity in income and cultural differences in a group of stakeholders having joint access to a commons, may have varied impact on their attitude to economic and environmental management of the CPR resource base. There is likely to be a trade off between economic and environmental management which influences the sustainability outcomes. Conservative management linked to sustainability is likely to be more effective when it involves collective action of people with relatively homogeneous income groups, similar needs and antecedents, poorer private options and high dependence on the commons together with well defined property rights. On the other hand, a resource group with greater inequality in the distribution of income opportunities and differences in socio-cultural standing in a rather hazy property right scenario, is likely to put stress on greater economic gains at the cost of environmental management. This is vindicated by comparing the institutional aspect and income and class differences in two fish production units in Burdwan district of West Bengal, India. Gini coefficient, maximum sustainable yield based on Schaefer model, coefficient of variation of profitability and marketing efficiency index etc are applied for the analytical purpose. In one case, a fish production group with lease right consists of 387 members out of whom only 12 are fishermen by birth. With majority of the members having varied white collar jobs and fishery treated as a subsidiary occupation, there exists high income inequality and exit options, less regard for sustainability of the fishery resource and urge for high profit. In the other case, permanent fishing right is granted to a primary fish co- operative society (PFCS) where all the members are fishermen by birth, having similar socio- cultural traits, low income inequality, low exit options and high dependence on the fishery resource. Here sustainable fishery management on collective action dominates the profitability criteria that involves larger harvest of the stock. A reorientation with grant of permanent fishing right to PFCS with actual fishermen as members would possibly ensure greater economic equity and environmental sustainability."
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