Traditional and Modern Management of Natural Resources: Evidence from Benin's Inland Fisheries

Found at: https://hdl.handle.net/10535/8644
PDF
Type:	Conference Paper
Author:	Alonso, Elena Briones; Houssa, Romain; Verpoorten, Marijke
Conference:	Design and Dynamics of Institutions for Collective Action: A Tribute to Prof. Elinor Ostrom, Second Thematic Conference of the IASC
Location:	Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Conf. Date:	29 November - 1 December
Date:	2012
URI:	https://hdl.handle.net/10535/8644
Sector:	Fisheries
Region:	Africa
Subject(s):	common pool resources fisheries institutions resource management
Abstract:	"This paper investigates the functioning of two locally designed rules to manage the fishery stock. The rules apply to the use of fine meshed nets and stem from two distinct institutions: (i) a modern institution embodied in fishing committees, and (ii) a traditional institution embedded in Voodoo, an Animist religion that originated in Benin. We examine the effectiveness of these rules relying on individual-level data on weekly revenue and the use of fishing gear by fishermen. We find that the two types of rules co-exist, and have a statistically significant effect on fishing activity. However, the quantitative effect of these rules on fishing activities is small and, unless reinforced, the existing rules may not be sufficient to prevent the collapse of the ecosystem."

Files in this item

Files	Size	Format	View
Traditional and ... t of Natural Resources.pdf	819.6Kb	PDF	View/Open