| Variable Type | Categorical |
|---|---|
| Variable Component Type | Actor |
| Variable Kind | Interaction |
| Theme | Institutions (learn about themes) |
| Projects | SESMAD |
| Question | Is membership in this actor group subject to ongoing negotiations (fuzzy boundaries)? Or are the boundaries the group more rigid? |
| Select Options | Fuzzy, Rigid |
| Unit | |
| Role | CommonsUser |
| Importance | "Rigid boundaries ensure that the benefits of clear boundaries are obtained. This being that those who participate in group activities and incur the costs of cooperation are ensured that they will benefit from the advantages of belonging to the group. It also helps to limit the amount of a natural resource that can be extracted in the case of natural resource management. At the same time, there are some circumstances under which it can be very important to have fuzzy boundaries between groups. Particularly in situations where environmental scarcity and heterogeneity is high, it can be very helpful for resource users to access the resources owned by other groups. This is enabled by fuzzy boundaries (see Niamir-Fuller 1998). There is thus a trade-off between the benefits associated with each of these types of boundaries (which is at the same time a weakness of the other in that it does not confer this benefit as much)." |
| Definition | "A rigid boundary is one in which changes in membership and the rights and obligations associated with membership change infruequently and are not changeable based on short to medium-term fluctiations. A fuzzy boundary is one in which changes in membership and the rights and obligations associated with membership can change in a relatively ad hoc basis, based on the needs of users and potential members to access the benefits associated with membership." |
| Sectors |
Theory Usages
| Theory | Value Used |
|---|
Associated Studies
Case Usages
| Case | Interaction Type | Component | Value Used | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park | Governance | GBR recreational fishers | Not Applicable | |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park | Governance | GBR commercial fishers | Rigid | Need to have licenses to fish commercially |
| Wakatobi National Park | Governance | Wakatobi Bajau fishers | Rigid | |
| Central California National Marine Sanctuaries | Governance | California Academic Researchers | Fuzzy | Researchers easily come in and out of Sanctuary research projects, and there is no clear membership to this group. |
| Raja Ampat (National Act No. 32 2004) | Governance | Raja Ampat Artisanal Fishers | Rigid | Ethnic group |
| Raja Ampat (National Act No. 32 2004) | Governance | Raja Ampat Tourism | Rigid | Open to anyone, but need a permit to enter the MPAs - both for operators and tourists |
| Raja Ampat (National Act No. 32 2004) | Governance | Raja Ampat Artisanal Fishers | Rigid | Based on traditional rights |
| Raja Ampat (National Act No. 32 2004) | Governance | Raja Ampat Artisanal Fishers | Rigid | Based on ethnicity |
| Svalbard Nature Reserves | Governance | Svalbard Tourism | Rigid | Although the boundary is open for any operator to initiate cruises to Svalbard, in practice almost all boats/operators are members of AECO. |
| Great Australian Bight Marine Park (GABMP) (Commonwealth Waters) | Governance | GABMP (Commonwealth Waters) Commercial Fishers | Rigid | Need to have licenses to fish SBT commercially, and defined by quota system. |
| Svalbard Nature Reserves | Governance | Svalbard Shrimp Fishers | Rigid | Membership was designated in the Svalbard Treaty in 1920 |
| Great Australian Bight Marine Park (GABMP) (Commonwealth Waters) | Governance | GABMP (Commonwealth Waters) Commercial Fishers | Rigid | Need to have licenses to fish SBT commercially |
| Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve | Governance | Australian Toothfish Fishers | Rigid | Ownership of quota defines group membership. |
| Great Australian Bight Marine Park (GABMP) (Commonwealth Waters) | Governance | GABMP (Commonwealth Waters) Commercial Fishers | Rigid | Need to have licenses to fish SBT commercially, and defined by quota system. |
| Svalbard Nature Reserves | Governance | Svalbard Tourism | Rigid | Although the boundary is open for any operator to initiate cruises to Svalbard, in practice almost all boats/operators are members of AECO. |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park | Governance | GBR commercial fishers | Not Applicable | |
| Seaflower MPA | Governance | Seaflower artisanal fishers | Rigid | It is based on ethnic origin. Artisanal fishers are members of the Raizal ethnic group: they are" a national ethnic minority by Colombia and recognized as indigenous by the UN. Raizals descend from English settlers who started arriving in 1630 on the Seaflower (sister ship of the Mayflower), African slaves, and migrants from other Caribbean islands. They have a long sociocultural and economic history distinct from mainland Colombia. Besides having a different language, religion, and ethnicity, the archipelago's isolation meant that the people had a high level of self-determination for over 300 years, mostly controlling their natural resources and marine-based economy until the middle of the 20th century." (from MPA NEWS, Vol. 16, No. 5: REFLECTING ON MARINE TERRITORY: SEAFLOWER MPA, THE RAIZAL PEOPLE, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE). |
| Seaflower MPA | Governance | Seaflower artisanal fishers | Rigid | It is based on ethnic origin. Artisanal fishers are members of the Raizal ethnic group: they are" a national ethnic minority by Colombia and recognized as indigenous by the UN. Raizals descend from English settlers who started arriving in 1630 on the Seaflower (sister ship of the Mayflower), African slaves, and migrants from other Caribbean islands. They have a long sociocultural and economic history distinct from mainland Colombia. Besides having a different language, religion, and ethnicity, the archipelago's isolation meant that the people had a high level of self-determination for over 300 years, mostly controlling their natural resources and marine-based economy until the middle of the 20th century." (from MPA NEWS, Vol. 16, No. 5: REFLECTING ON MARINE TERRITORY: SEAFLOWER MPA, THE RAIZAL PEOPLE, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE). |
| Cenderwasih National Park | Governance | Cenderwasih fishers | Rigid | |
| Cenderwasih National Park | Governance | Cenderwasih fishers | Rigid | |
| Falkland Islands squid | Governance | Patagonian Squid Trawlers | Rigid | Catch entitlement may be traded on a seasonal or annual basis, whereas ITQ itself can be traded by outright sale and transfer (Harte & Barton, 2007). Ownership of the total quota, however, is limited to 30% by any one company (Arkhipkin et al. 2013b). Only companies listed on an eligibility register would be able to trade ITQ or CE for that fishery. To be entered onto an ITQ eligibility register, a company will have to demonstrate active involvement in a fishery, effective control of rights and the efficient use of those rights. To be on a CE eligibility register companies will need to meet minimum thresholds for Falkland Island participation in a joint venture company. |
| New Zealand squid | Governance | New Zealand Arrow Squid Fishers | Rigid | QMS very strict on membership. However, if any quota is sold then a company can buy in. |
| California squid | Governance | California market squid fishermen | Rigid | Licenses are clear. Can buy into squid if any licenses go for sale. |
| Pond aquaculture on Lombok, Indonesia | Governance | Lombok aquaculture farmers | Fuzzy | |
| Pond aquaculture on Lombok, Indonesia | Governance | Lombok aquaculture farmers | ||
| Caete-Teperacu Extractive Reserve (RESEX) in Braganca, Brazil | Governance | Association of Users in the Caete-Teperacu RESEX (ASSUREMACATA) in Brazil | Rigid | |
| Gili Trawangan Coastal Tourism | Governance | SCUBA diving businesses on Gili Trawangan | Not Applicable | |
| Gili Trawangan Coastal Tourism | Governance | Gili Indah Dive Association (GIDA) | Rigid | |
| Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica fisheries governance | Governance | Isla Caballo AMPR Costa Rica | Fuzzy | |
| Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica fisheries governance | Governance | Palito-Montero AMPR Costa Rica | Fuzzy | |
| Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica fisheries governance | Governance | Paquera-Tambor AMPR Costa Rica | Fuzzy | |
| Macquarie Island Marine Park | Governance | Australian Toothfish Fishers | Rigid | |
| Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) | Governance | Galapagos Artisan Fishermen | Rigid | Fishing permits |
| Macquarie Island Marine Park | Governance | Australian Toothfish Fishers | Rigid | Ownership of quota defines group membership. |
| Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) | Governance | Galapagos Tourism Sector | Rigid | |
| Central California National Marine Sanctuaries | Governance | California Groundfish Fishermen | Rigid | With the limited entry groundfish fishery, it is clear who has a permit and who does not. With the open access fishery, vessels are required to have VMS, submit declaration reports and landings reports, and large vessels (>125ft) are required to have NMFS observers. Thus, enforcers and governing officials can identify users in the open access fishery. |
| Wakatobi National Park | Governance | Wakatobi Bajau fishers | Rigid | Ethnic group |
| Wakatobi National Park | Governance | Wakatobi Bajau fishers | Rigid | Ethnic group |
| Central California National Marine Sanctuaries | Governance | California Sanctuary Recreational Users | Fuzzy | Any person can be included in this group. |
| Central California National Marine Sanctuaries | Governance | California Academic Researchers | Fuzzy | Researchers easily come in and out of Sanctuary research projects, and there is no clear membership to this group. |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park | Governance | GBR recreational fishers | Fuzzy | Anyone can be a recreational fisher |
| Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve | Governance | Australian Toothfish Fishers | Rigid | Defined by quota system. |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park | Governance | GBR commercial fishers |