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- Title
The Evolution of the Maine Lobster V-Notch Practice: Cooperation in a Prisoner's Dilemma Game.
- Authors
Acheson, James; Gardner, Roy
- Abstract
The Maine lobster industry is experiencing record high catches because, in all probability, of an effective management program. One of the most important conservation measures is the V-notch program that allows fishermen to conserve proven breeding females by notching the tails of egg-bearing lobsters. Such marked lobsters may never be taken. Although thousands of lobster fishermen participate, it is a voluntary practice. The genesis of this practice is not easily explained, because V-notching poses a prisoner's dilemma problem that gives fishermen an incentive to avoid the practice. The most common explanations for ways to overcome prisoner's dilemma problems will not work in the case of the V-notch. An unusual combination of factors explains the V-notch program: (1) a strong belief among those in the industry that the V-notch is effective in conserving the lobster stock; (2) a low discount rate because the long-term gains from V-notching are higher than the one-time gain from defection; (3) a gain in reputation for those who V-notch. At the start of the 20th century, fishermen did not V-notch; by the end of the century, V-notching was common. We explain the change in strategies using a three-parameter evolutionary model that emphasizes the importance of culture change.
- Subjects
MAINE; AMERICAN lobster; LOBSTER industry; COLLECTIVE action; LOBSTERS
- Publication
Ecology & Society, 2011, Vol 16, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1708-3087
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5751/ES-04004-160141