APES LCV 2017

Happy Fishing Game

THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS

Background:
In 1968, Dr. Garrett Harden coined the concept which he called the Tragedy of the Commons, to
explain a problem which occurs when resources such as the oceans, water, air, or 'commons' land are
available to anyone and everyone. Over time, these shared resources become overexploited and the
consumers face the choice of restricting their individual consumption for the long-term good of the
resource and all those who share it, or continuing to selfishly consume the resource and until maybe they
will face dire consequences at a later time.

When people do not feel compelled to restrict their use of resources for the welfare of other users
and future generations, the "Tragedy of the Commons" occurs.

Lab Objectives:
1. Participation in an activity that will help better understand the concept of the Tragedy of the
Commons and the difficulties associated with using or managing shared resources.
2. Preparation of a video monologue or dialogue, describing the outcomes of the lab and expressing
and justifying personal opinions.

Preparation:
Form groups of 4 participants - each is a fisherman and is head of a family. Each group should sit around
their bowl of M & M's - a lake with fish - which is their shared or common resource.

Materials:
- M & M's of 4 different colours
- Bowl (the fishing 'lake')
- Straw (a fishing 'pole')
- Plastic spoon (a fishing 'net')
- Small plastic beaker ( the 'keep net', to store captured 'fish')

Situation:
Each one of you represents the head of a family (a fisherman) whose only source of income is to sell the
daily fish catch. In order for your family to survive, you must catch enough fish to pay your fishing
operating costs and make enough profit to pay for your family's living expenses. The only source of fish
is a small local lake, which can accommodate up to 16 fish (the carrying capacity), and which you share
with three other fishermen.
You can catch fish by fishing from the lake with straws (fishing pole) or using a spoon to scoop up the
fish (fishing net). Each student will get a chance to fish once a year (which lasts 30 seconds) and each
time you fish you may take 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 fish from the lake, one at a time. It is your choice of how many
fish (0-4) you take, however, if you only take one fish, you will not make enough income to support your
family and pay for your fishing operating expenses. Note that there are 4 varieties of fish, with each
having a different cash value based on its color.

After the annual fishing season has ended (ie after each of the 4 fishermen has completed a 30 second
fishing turn), any remaining fish will reproduce once during the off-season. Each remaining fish is able to
reproduce and make one new fish. Note that there cannot be more than 16 fish in the lake - a maximum of
4 of each colour.

If you are unable to catch enough fish to support your fishing operating costs and your family living
expenses, your game is over.

Procedures:
1. You, a fisherman, will start season 1 with $25 credit
2. You have options of fishing gear to purchase:
a. Fishing pole (straws) cost $1 a one-time fee
b. Fishing net (spoon) cost $5 annual fee
3. Each fisherman will get 30 seconds to fish. Remember, you must catch enough to support your
family and pay your annual expenses - at least $20 per year.
4. At the end of each fishing season (round of the game), the remaining fish can reproduce and an
additional fish will be added to the lake for each fish remaining, according to the colors. Each fish
can replicate once only each season (for a maximum of 16 in bowl, 4 of each colour).
5. At the end of the first fishing season, fill in your expense sheet (worksheet). If you are unable to cover
your annual expenses, you are unable to fish the next year. You have gone bankrupt, have gone out
of business and must sit out of the game!
6. If there are fish remaining in the lake, continue to run another annual fishing season, with a different
'fisherman' having first catch.
7. Repeat steps 2 5. Again, if you are unable to cover your annual expenses, you are unable to fish the
next year.
8. Once the fish are exhausted - total up your worksheet.

Fishing Rules:
1. NO TALKING DURING ACTIVITY! This means no cooperation or pre-planning or 'deals'!
2. Fisherman can only fish one fish at a time.
3. Interference with other fishermen while they are fishing will result in a $5 fine. Fishing is a serious
business!
4. Keep all your caught fish in front of you in the plastic beaker - the 'keep net'.
5. If you are out of fish or out of money, you will have to sit out!
6. There is a PRIZE for the player that has the most money at the end of the game!!

Let's try again!

Repeat the fishing 'game' but before you start, analyse the results of the first 'game'. Have a discussion
and invent some rules in order to increase the harvests during the second game.

Re-play the fishing 'game' with the same procedure and rules, except you may now talk during the fishing
seasons.
 Happy Fishing Budget Sheet

Fisherman Name: __________________________

Year 1- Operating Costs/Profits- Starting Amount - $25 __$25_____

Annual (once a year) Fishing Fees Minus

Fishing Permit $5 per year $__________

Boat Maintenance/Fuel/Harbour Fees - $5 per year $__________

Cost of Living (Rent, Food, etc.) - $10 per year $__________

Option- Choose which type of fishing equipment you will use

Fishing Pole (Straw) - $1 initial fee (no annual charges) or $__________

Large Fishing Nets (Spoon) - $5 annual fee
TOTAL Operating Costs (year one) $$ __________

Year 1 Fishing Profits

Goldfish - $5 Each x ______________ = $ _________

Greenfish - $6 Each x _______________= $ _________

Redfish - $8 Each x _______________= $ _________

Bluefish - $12 Each x _______________= $ _________

Total Profits $$__________

Minus -
Operating Costs (Subtract from profits) $ __________

Total (+-) for Year 1: $ __________

Remember that you need at LEAST $20 worth of fish each year to survive

Question: Did you make a profit? Did you go bankrupt? Explain what happened.
Fisherman Name: __________________________

Year 2 Operating Costs/Profits- Starting Amount ? ___________

Annual (once a year) Fishing Fees Minus

Fishing Permit $5 per year $__________

Boat Maintenance/Fuel/Slip Fees - $5 per year $__________

Cost of Living (Rent, Food, etc.) - $10 per year $__________

You will need to pay another fee if you chose to use the nets
Large Fishing Nets (Spoon) - $5 annual fee $__________
TOTAL Operating Costs (year one) $$ __________

Remember that you need at LEAST $20 worth of fish each year to survive

Year 2 Fishing Profits

Goldfish- $5 Each x ______________ = $ _________

Greenfish- $6 Each x _______________= $ _________

Redfish- $8 Each x _______________= $ _________

Bluefish- $12 Each x _______________= $ _________

Total Profits $$__________

Minus -
Operating Costs (Subtract from profits) $ __________

Total (+-) for Year 2: $ __________

Question: Did you make a profit? Did you go bankrupt? Explain what happened. Did you change your
strategy for the 2nd round? How?
 Happy Fishing Lab - Tragedy of the Commons
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Did anyone in your group take too many fish? How did that make you feel? Did everyone try to take
as many as possible? Why or Why not? Does society reward those with the most?

2. Did anyone sacrifice their catch of fish, for the good of the community? Why or why not? Does
society ever reward that type of person?

3. In Game two... how did your strategy change, if at all? Does it make a difference to know what the
rewards are?

4. Is it possible to maximize the number of fish caught per person AND the number of fish remaining in
the pond at the same time? Why or Why not?

5. Think of a local commons that you are familiar with. [lunch queues, bathrooms, bookstalls, etc.] Do
similar situations arise? Explain. HOW might those problems be solved?

6. What are some natural resources that are common resources?

7. What are the global commons? Are these being used wisely? Why or why not?

8. What can people do to use these resources most wisely?

9. Did a particular type of fish disappear faster than others? How does this relate to economically
valuable species in nature and their extinction rates?

Postlab:

Create an audio or video monologue (or dialogue with a colleague), where some of the following content
is covered:
What were the main ideas of the simulation?
What did you learn?
What were the differences between the procedures and outcomes of the first and second 'games'?
What are some of the common resources in the human environment? Are these resources being
exploited unreasonably? Evidence and justification.
What are some global commons?
Do you think that humans are inherently selfish or cooperative in the way they use resources? Justify
what you think.
Do you see any relationships between this simulation and politics and/or global economies?
Three solutions are usually offered in a situation where a common resource is being over-exploited:
1. Allow the state or government to manage, control and exploit the resource
2. Privatization - put the common resource into private ownership
3. Allocate ownership of the resource to a defined group of 'commoners' - community
ownership
Can you offer any arguments supporting or rejecting any of these solutions?
Dr. Garrett Harden's idea of the Tragedy of the Commons used the sharing of common land in
medieval England as its justification and evidence. What do you think about this?