Abstract:
The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) establishes a new legal framework for the management of
biological resource use, for example in fisheries. The signatory states to the CBD have agreed upon several major principles
which become legally binding following ratification of the Convention by the national legislature. In terms of resource management,
two of these principles are especially remarkable: 1. a concept of sustainability which includes distributional considerations;
2. an ‘ecosystem approach’ that calls for the integration of aspects of community ecology into management schemes.
Unfortunately, current approaches to the management of biological resource use fall somewhat short of satisfying these two
principles. I try to rectify this, developing a method of analysis that integrates neoclassical resource economics, property
rights theory and community ecology into one theoretical concept which can be applied to such distinctive problems as overexploitation,
negative impact on ecosystems by resource use, and conflicts among resource users. This method of analysis will
make it possible to determine whether a specified biological resource use system and its accompanying management structures
meet the requirements set out by the CBD.
