Fishbanks: A Renewable Resource Management Simulation

Fishbanks is a multiplayer web-based simulation in which participants play the role of fishers and seek to maximize their net worth as they compete against other players and deal with variations in fish stocks and their catch. Participants buy, sell, and build ships; decide where to fish; and negotiate with one another. Policy options available to instructors include auctions of new boats, permits, and quotas.

Developers: Dennis Meadows and John Sterman

Materials

• Fishbanks: A Renewable Resource Management Simulation (https://mitsloan.mit.edu/LearningEdge/simulations/fishbanks/Pages/fish-banks.aspx) Visit

Intended Audience and Usage

The learning objective of Fishbanks is to provide the opportunity for students to learn about the challenges of managing resources sustainably in a common pool resource setting, with realistic resource dynamics.

Fishbanks can be used in teaching the following courses: economics, strategy, negotiations, sustainability, environmental studies, public policy, resource economics; leadership and team-building; and any course in which the dynamics of cooperation and competition, resource management, and negotiation are relevant.