ABSTRACT
(Received May 27, 1986)
This is a case study of preventive management of the ecologic features, human uses and cultural stresses in the Long Point Ecosystem. The Long Point Ecosystem is portrayed as a dynamic intersection of longshore, inshore-offshore, and upland-lake continua, relatively undegraded, though threatened, by stresses that so heavily impacted on western Lake Erie. Recent threatening developments are identified. The spread of pollution and other stresses across the Long Point Ecosystem is shown to have implications for the allocation of rights to use this resource system. This is illustrated with respect to the commercial fishery. We outline taxonomy of cultural stresses and institutional arrangements and activities pertaining to management of these stresses; and suggest a range of institutional mechanisms for allocating relatively exclusive rights to resource use. Finally, we discuss the need for non-exclusive, systemic, self-regulation: a biosphere reserve designation being an appropriate fostering mechanism in the case of the Long Point Ecosystem.
