# New Study in the Journal Nature Describes the Effectiveness and promise of Community-Based Fishery Management

*Published:* 2011-01-07
*Author:* Kate Bonzon

[![Kate Bonzon, EDF Director of Design Advisory Services](https://blogs.edf.org/edfish/wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2009/11/Kate_Bonzon_Fishing.jpg)](https://blogs.edf.org/edfish/wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2009/11/Kate_Bonzon_Fishing.jpg)Kate Bonzon, EDF Director of Design Advisory ServicesA new study released this week in the journal [***Nature***](http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature09689.html) describes the effectiveness and promise of community-based fishery management. Among others, the study highlights a [**catch share in Chile**](http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=59367) that has 20,000 participants and covers more than 1,500 square miles “making it one of the most successful abalone\* fisheries in the world.” The kind of catch share that covers this fishery is called a territorial use rights for fishing or [**TURF**](http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=59411), an area-based management program that assigns a specific area to an individual, group or community.

*\*The Chilean system manages loco, a valuable sea snail, commonly called “false abalone” due to its appearance and taste.*