TURFs in the post-quake recovery: Case studies in Sanriku fishing communities, Japan

This study explored how Territorial Use Rights for Fisheries (TURFs) functioned during the recovery from the devastating tsunami disaster which struck the Sanriku region in 2011, with a focus on abalone harvest, which is the most profitable resource managed by TURFs. During the winter of 2011-2012, only 36 of 51 managing bodies could harvest abalones because of a great shortage of boats. Recourse degradation was also feared, and the harbors were badly damaged. Of 27 managing bodies whose harvesting methods were known, 22 harvested collectively. Abalones are traded at high price and harvesting them requires skill; hence, it has always been done individually and competitively; collective harvesting conducted during this season was therefore quite exceptional. Eighteen managing bodies also handled distribution of the harvest, adopting flexible measures according to each community's circumstances. The collective action ended immediately after the urgent shortage of boats was alleviated. The diversity of natural resources managed by TURFs, autonomy of the fishing communities fostered by their remoteness and the nested structure of TURFs' resource management enhanced the resilience of the fishing communities.