Markov Decision Process · Resource Management

Fisheries Quota
Management

You are a fisheries manager. Each year, set the harvest quota to maximise long-term catch value — without collapsing the fish stock.

How to play

15 population states from Critically Low (0) to Peak (14)
Choose a harvest quota each of 10 seasons
Reward = catch value (0–1 per step, higher quota ≠ higher reward at low pop)
Overharvest and the population crashes — sometimes permanently
Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) is the sweet spot — shown on the gauge
Keys 1–5 pick actions; R resets; Enter confirms

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🐟 Fisheries MDP Season 1 / 20 Cumulative Catch 0.000

Ocean Population

Critically Low MSY Zone Peak

MSY

Choose a harvest quota for this season.

Harvest Quota — Season 1

Game Over — 10 Seasons Complete

Season closed.

0.000

Your total cumulative catch value over 10 seasons.

Optimal Policy Comparison

The MSY Lesson

Maximum Sustainable Yield is not maximum quota — it depends on population level. At low populations, even modest harvest quotas can cause irreversible collapse. The MDP optimal policy closes the fishery when stocks are critically low, and ramps harvesting only once populations recover. Precautionary management is economically rational.

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