Facing anti-commons in aquaculture projects in Portugal - an ethical problem in fisheries

Abstract

This work intends to show how ethical problems occur when bureaucracy is present in aquaculture projects which are intended to be exploited. The delay of projects approval generates loss of value once projects may not be implemented or implemented after the suitable time. Theory of anti-commons is presented in the contextualization of the problem. When an “anti-commons” emerges, resources may be prone to under-use. In an anti-commons situation, there are too many exclusion rights that lead to the under-use of resources. In Portugal, bureaucracy in projects approval contributes to such a situation of anti-commons.