Open-access, limited entry and intertemporal management models for marine fisheries

The study develops steady state and dynamic resource management models for analyzing the Malaysian marine fisheries. These models are based on the theoretical concepts of the natural resource economics namely the open-access, limited entry and the inter-temporal fishery models. Such management models are deemed necessary because of the need to sustain the depleting resource and degrading environment. Marine fisheries had been managed under open-access for a long time before government intervention took effect sometime during the 1960s. Open-access and government intervention during the earlier phase of economic development contributed to the immediate pressure on fisheries. Community development programs geared to alleviate poverty among the fishermen apparently contradicted the effort of sustaining fisheries. Even today this fundamental management objective of sustainable development of fishery resource is not fully understood. This study suggests that ability to sustain fishery requires government intervention that can direct resource use to the limited entry or inter-temporal optimal levels.