A Game About Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources

Dennis MeadowsUppsalla University

11.5.15

Introduction to Fish Banks, Ltd.

• Assigning Team Roles• Criterion of Success• Financial Information• Initial Conditions• Materials• Steps of Play

Assigning Team Roles

1. Ship Handler - carries your ships to the ocean and allocates them to show your decisions.

2. Record Keeper - enters the computer printout data onto decision sheet and records your team’s decisions.

3. Negotiater - circulates among the other teams trying to spy on their strategies and to buy or sell ships at a profit.

4. Strategist - developing and promoting your own ideas about the best way to maximize your team’s profit.

Criterion of SuccessCriterion of Success

Maximum possible assets at the end of the game.

ASSETS =

BANK BALANCE BOAT SALVAGE VALUE : Av. Profit of last 2 years, Initially: $250 PER BOAT

+

Profit

Profit = Income - Expenses

Income

Negotiated Price

10% if Minimum Balance is greater than zero

Catch x Price ($20 per fish)

Expenses

Harbor: $50/ship-yearCoastal Fishery: $150/ship-yearDeep Sea Fishery: $250/ship-

yearNew Ships: $300 each (charged at

end of the current year but delivered the following year)

Auction: Highest BidTrade: Negotiated Price

15% if Minimum Balance is less than zero.

Profit Example

FISH SALES = 25 X $20

OPERATING COST

DEEP SEA SUBTOTAL

FISH SALES = 15 X $20

OPERATING COST

COASTAL SUBTOTAL

HARBOR COST

OPERATING COST

1 SHIP TO DEEP SEA

1 SHIP TO COASTAL

1 SHIP TO HARBOR

PROFIT

$250

$150

- $50

$350

$500- $250

$300- $150

Sequence of Debits and Credits

Fishing Fleet

• Initial Size = 24/# of teams

• Enlarging- Auction- Trade-

Construction

• Reducing- Trade

White = 1 Ship

Red = 5 Ships Yellow = 10 Ships

Ordering New Ships

Each year you may order new ships to be constructed. The maximum order is half of your total fleet (initial fleet + auction purchases +net purchases from other teams.) This number is D8 on your decision sheet. If D8 is an odd number, the maximum order is set to equal half of the next higher whole number.

Catch

Catch influenced by:Number of Ships,

Ship Effectiveness,Weather

Ship Effectiveness

25

Fishing Areas

Deep Sea Fishery

Maximum Population:2000 - 4000 Fish

Annual Operating Cost:

$250 per Ship-Year

Productivity (Maximum Ship Effectiveness):

25 Fish per Ship-Year

Coastal FisheryMaximum Population:

1000 - 2000 Fish

Annual Operating Cost:$150 per Ship-Year

Productivity (Maximum Ship Effectiveness)

15 Fish per Ship-Year

Regeneration of Fish

Recent History of the Fisheries

Game Board

Ships

• 1 white ship = 1• 1 red ship = 5• 1 gold ship = 10

Decision Sheet

Steps of Play

1. Receive computer printout and record on decision sheet under "Annual Report."

2. Collect ships and money.3. Bid for auctioned ships, if there is an auction.

4. Buy or sell ships in trading session.5. Place orders for new ship construction.

6. Calculate and record fleet size.7. Allocate ships among fishing areas and harbor and record decisions on Decision Sheet.

8. Place ships on game board.9. Give Decision Sheet to operator.

Develop your Strategy

1. Your goal is to end the game with the maximum possible assets.

2. Discuss within your team what strategies for boat acquisition and allocation you will follow to attain this goal.

3. Write down your strategy: Ocean: Team: Year: 1

The metaphorical alternative to FishBanks

Materials

• Bowel• Candy pieces

Goal

Get as much candy for yourself as you can over the time period you play the game

Candy Added to the Bowl

Each period I will give each person as much candy as they ask for, up to the limit in the bowl.

At the end of each period, I will double the number of pieces in the bowl, or bring the total up to 50, whichever is less

Candy AdditionsCa

ndy

Adde

d

Candy Left in Bowl0 50

25

0