An analysis of property rights in the Fijian qoliqoli

Fisheries management in Fiji's inshore fishery exists in a plural legal and governance system comprised on the one part by customary fishing rights, and on the other by centralized ownership. The ambiguity in this arrangement stems from a lack of understanding of the property rights of customary fishing rights. This paper aims to clarify what property rights in Fiji's inshore fisheries consists of by applying the bundle of rights property theory analysis using Schlager and Ostrom's five property rights, i.e., access, withdrawal, management, exclusion, and alienation. A clearer understanding of property rights in a fisheries resource is crucial for sustainable fisheries management.