This chapter examines the rationale and the viability of pooling arrangements in coastal fisheries in Japan. It is shown that the advantages of coordination and joint operation associated with pooling are reflected in the improved performance of the pooling group. The allocation of effort between fishing locations characterized by different risks (of net damage) and productivities is much closer to optimum in the fully pooling group than in the group where the attempt to pool has largely failed.
Keywords: community arrangements, market failure, Japan, coastal fishery, pooling