Perceptions of common‐pool resource management in the Tana River, Norway: An exploratory analysis

Abstract The sustainable management of common resources such as wild Atlantic salmon in the Tana River, Norway, is a significant challenge, as it involves a public goods dilemma where individual interests can conflict with collective interests. This study explores local perceptions of common‐pool resource management in the Tana River using vignettes characterizing hypothetical rivers with declining or sustainable fish stock levels. Participants were asked about ideal catch redistribution levels, beliefs about actual contributions, and factors necessary for successful common‐pool resource management. An allocation game was also played to measure patterns of actual cooperation. The results show that while participants believe around 35%–50% of the catch should be redistributed, they expect actual contributions to be lower at 15%–30%. In the allocation game, the modal percentage that participants gave away was 0% of the stake. Participants also rated the likelihood of various outcomes if a common storage facility were introduced, with those from Karasjok having a more pessimistic outlook than those from Tana. Substantial agreement was found for monitoring, shared traditions, and co‐management in both municipalities. Almost all participants indicated disagreements over river use, with tourism and specific fishing gear being the main points of contention.