Catch The Fish

Catch The Fish (Sustainable Resouces Management Game)
-(Nature Game)-

How we explain "sustainable" ? In my mind I remember that sustainable means that we still can use resources, but not to much, so the nature still can recover and the balance is in the right pattern. That's my idea, how about yours?

There is a game that we can use to discuss about sustainable management for nature resources. I know this game when I come to TNC (The Nature Conservancy) training in Bali in 2003. Although it's a complicated game, I believe that children (5th grade) can play this game and share their opinions (we have a responsibility as facilitator to make this game easier to understand - and I believe you are a good facilitator : ) ).

Needs:
80 fishes from paper
5 hook (from wire)
5 x 2.5 meter lines

Make a circle with 2 meter diameter. You can mark the circle by using chalk. Divide groups into five. Then each groups choose 2 participant. So there is two active players in each groups, play as fisherman)

Each fisherman take the end of the line. Tie the hook in the middle of the line.

Read the rules: 1. They can catch max 5 fish in one round (so if all the group success, in one round there will be 25 fish being catched). 2. For every round passed by, teacher will add about 20% fish from the fish which still in the water (so teacher will throw some fishes to the fishing arena, based on number of fish still "live" every round bell) 3. We choose the winner related with their fish catch 4. No round limit

Notes:
1. Try to make a simulation first. You need to calculate how much time the participants need to catch about 5 fishes in one round. And then you have (X) minutes for each round.

According to my experience, all the goups will compete to catch fishes as many as possible. So in round one, about 25 fishes will be catch. In round two, they will still catch about 25 fishes, and so on.

EXPECTED RESULTS

	Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D	Group E	Total Catch	Fish Left	Fish Breed (20%)
Round 0							80
Round 1	5	5	5	5	5	25	55	11
Round 2	5	5	5	5	5	25	66 min 25	8
Round 3	5	5	5	5	5	25	49 min 25	5
Round 4	5	5	5	5	5	25	30 min 25	1
Round 5	1	1	1	2	1	6	6 min 6	0
Total Catch	21	21	21	22	21	106

So, according to this plan, all the fish will be gone after 5th round. Or if I mistaken, all the fish will be gone in round six.

And then ask the participants:
1. Can they catch more fishes than this? Yes
2. Are they pay attention about fish breeding percentage in this game? Yes (some said too late, or maybe not at all)
3. If they (person or group) already know about "nature friendly fishing" can it be done alone? No, must be in groups (they can not work by theirselves)
4. Is there any way to get nature conservation and fishing activity walk together side by side? Oh course... look at this table for example. Look at the fish number! I only make it for nine round.

	Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D	Group E	Total Catch	Fish Left	Fish Breed (20%)
Round 0							80
Round 1	3	3	3	3	3	15	65	13
Round 2	2	2	2	2	2	10	78 min 10	13
Round 3	3	3	3	3	3	15	81 min 15	13
Round 4	2	2	2	2	2	10	79 min 10	14
Round 5	3	3	3	3	3	15	83 min 15	14
Round 6	2	2	2	2	2	10	82 min 10	14
Round 7	3	3	3	3	3	15	86 min 15	14
Round 8	2	2	2	2	2	10	85 min 10	15
Round 9	3	3	3	3	3	15	90 min 15	15
	23	23	23	23	23	115

Benefit :
1. It can be more than round nine, because the fish number is still increase (relate this topic into sustainable issue)
2. The fisherman can be rich in the future, although it is not in fast mode

Notes:
In extreme way, we can catch more fishes. Imagine how it will be if we don't catch the fish in some opening round... :) ?