From “Common Pools” to “Fish Pools”: Shifting Property Institutions in Traditional Waters of Norway and Canada

Although exclusive common pool resource management regimes have locally been applied since time immemorial in many coastal and fjord areas, the legal conceptualization of space, oceans their living resources were traditionally treated as a “global commons.” The idea restricting access to oceanic delegating governance state instruments has become increasingly popular middle previous century when political economy models predicted eventual overexploitation or degradation all used common. While jurisdictions overall continue preserve marine for state’s people, rapid privatization subsequent development aquaculture over last few decades, often confront this understanding, leading enclosure delineated maritime area that was initially intended be accessible public. Enclosing sea purpose leads semantic change property institutions govern areas provides form commons key locations designated development. This article explores concept “ocean commons” debates how purposes may collide with Indigenous local conceptions management. applies theoretical investigation on two examples from Canada Norway, suggests rethinking waters through lens provide guiding ethos revisiting current approaches ensuring harmonious coexistence between local/Indigenous traditional activities.