Activity 4.1 – Tragedy of the Commons: A Case Study

 

1. Tragedy of the commons

Tragedy of the commons is a term that has been widely used ever since Garrett Hardin wrote an article including the term in 1968. Although tragedy of the commons can be used in economics, I will be explaining it from an environmental perspective. Tragedy of the commons is used to explain a situation where a limited resource is used up at a rate of which it can not replenish. Although the theory is multifaceted, it includes the claim that one individual will take more of a resource then they need, and other individuals will begin to do the same out of fear of losing out. This causes the resource to become depleted, which effects everyone in the community.   

2. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is highly sought after for its use in sushi and sashimi. This tuna is very large and can grow to about 1,102 pounds. The fish has a life span that "can exceed 30 years, making them long lived among fish species" ("Atlantic Bluefin," (n.d.). This species of tuna are known to cross the Atlantic ocean in just a couple months, and they have a special vascular system that allows them to maintain a body temperature that is warmer than the water it lives in (Krause, 2020). This fish takes a long time to mature, so naturally, it is prone to experience tragedy of the commons. 

This example of tragedy of the commons starts in Asia, Japan, and Taiwan, where the highest numbers of tuna are caught. The amount of tuna being caught has decreased significantly throughout the years, and “the Atlantic population of the species has declined by nearly 90 percent since the 1970s” (Krause, 2020).  Researchers believe that the decline is due to the high number of juvenile fish being caught. Fishers catch the tuna before they reach a reproductive age, thus killing off the species. In this case, the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are the limited resource, and the fishers are the individuals that take more than what they need. This loss in tuna greatly effects the community, and the short term gain no longer exists.  

3. Externalities- Positive and Negative

The thing about externalities is that when it comes to the tragedy of the commons, everyone experiences a negative externality in the end. A positive externality is that the fishers gain economically, and they get to keep their job for a little. Additionally, consumers are able to buy tuna and sushi at a low price. At the same time, the fishers are out of jobs and their economic standing declines when the tuna population sizes being to dwindle. Same goes for the consumers when the prices for sushi and tuna skyrocket because of the inevitable overfishing. A negative externality is that the ecosystem is adversely affected, and other organism populations will change. Similarly, people that catch tuna for their own enjoyment will not be able to do so anymore.  

 

4. Two Solutions

Much like what Elinor Ostrom said in the provided video, it is never a good idea to create simple solutions for complex problems. ("Big Think", 2012) The issue surrounding the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is a complicated one which will not be solved unless humans come to terms with the decommodification of the fish. Two solutions to increase the tuna population size include protecting the fish around the Central Atlantic while the adults are searching for food, and the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean where the fish are known to breed. Commercial fishing of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna needs to be made illegal until the fish population can recover. If the population increases to a stable level, there must be heavy regulations on how much tuna can be caught. Similarly, fishing in areas that are known breeding grounds needs to be prohibited indefinitely. The tuna population will continue to decline if they are not able to reach sexual maturity.  

 

5. Argument For and Against

Alternatively, it can be argued that making it illegal to fish for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna will take away jobs from people that are just trying to make a living wage. Many of these fishers live in poverty and are exploited on the ships. They are usually not paid very well, and it would just be cruel to take away their jobs. The tuna is also a provision which is directly taken from the ocean ecosystem, making the fish very accessible. Additionally, the demand for tuna in food like sushi will not be met, and people will not be able to eat the food they desire. Restaurants will also not be able to sell the tuna and might lose out on customers and profit. Another argument is that the tuna are most vulnerable when they are juveniles or younger, which makes them easy to catch. Making it illegal to fish in known breeding grounds will make it harder for the fishers to catch the fish, and profit will be lost.  

Although there will always be instances of illegal fishing, making it harder for this species of tuna to be fished commercially will help significantly. The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna has been so overfished that even noncommercial fishing needs to be stopped. The tuna is a massive fish that plays a major role in many of the ocean's ecosystems. If they are fished to extinction, we will see a ripple effect for years to come. No short-term gain is large enough to be content with the loss of a species. Its provisional value will be lost, and in the end, every single person involved in the exploitation of the fish will be negatively affected. It really is a lose lose situation, and the only people that win are the businessmen at the top of the corporation. Either way, fishing for this species of tuna will come to an end, whether the species goes extinct, or we choose to act against overfishing is entirely up to humanity. Although I love sushi, I would gladly give it up if it meant that the species could last on this planet a little longer.  

 

 

6. References

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://oceana.org/marine-life/ocean-fishes/atlantic-bluefin-    tuna 

 

Big Think. (2012, April 23). Ending the tragedy of the commons [Video]. YouTube

 

Krause C. (2020): The Tragedy of the Commons - The Tuna Example. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_the_Commons_-_The_Tuna_Example [accessed on 14-04-2021]