The tragedy of the commons framework [1–3] has helped explain the decline in global fish
stocks and indicated points of management intervention to facilitate stock rebuilding [4]. However,
the continued struggles of fishing communities to leverage their resources into secure livelihoods
[5] highlights a second, social tragedy of the commons. World fisheries fall short of
their potential earnings by US$50–80 billion a year (e.g., [6–8]). Losses not only include foregone
catch due to overfishing, but also excessive harvest cost, low processing yields, product
waste, and a failure to reach the highest value markets [9]. The result is lost income to smallscale
and industrial harvesters and processors, foregone high quality protein to consumers, and
reduced food and income security for fishing dependent communities in both developed and
developing regions.