Open access fisheries, in which the right to catch fish is available to all, is frequently identified as a fundamentally problematic situation. Given recent recognition of the extent and significance of small-scale fisheries and fisheries in developing countries it is worth examining how fundamental or universal the problem of open access is. There are two reasons for doing so. The first is to bring greater clarity to the debates by examining how the term is used, including ensuring that arguments of economic efficiency are not confused with arguments about resource sustainability. The second is to avoid policy prescriptions for small-scale fisheries that may have negative consequences for those dependent on these fisheries. Consideration of the mechanisms by which access is mediated in small-scale fisheries draws attention to issues of social dynamics and the role of power rather than aggregate numbers of fishers. From this perspective, not restricting who can fish may represent a viable management option for some small-scale fisheries, particularly where there are migratory fishers, seasonal waterbodies or fluctuating resources or where these resources are critical for food security. Problems in small-scale fisheries are not necessarily due to an absence of restrictions on who can fish and it is therefore important to guard against misdiagnosing a problem without explanation or evidence.
