A regional lobster management board recently proposed a five-year moratorium on lobster fishing in the Atlantic waters south of Cape Cod based on a study of the lobster population. Which of the following statements is not correct

a. lobsters are rival but not excludable

b. the lobster population is an example of the tragedy of the commons

c. reducing the quota on the number of lobsters any fisher can catch would have a protective effect on the lobster population

d. if left unregulated, the lobster population will likely increase.

Statement D is not correct.

Explanation:

a. Lobsters are rival but not excludable: This is correct, as lobster is a common resource to which everybody can get access to with no need to pay for it. Besides, a person can consume only one animal.

b. The lobster population is an example of the tragedy of the commons: This is correct, since people, acting by their own needs or interests, may exceed the capture of too many lobsters, affecting their population and, therefore, other users.

c. Reducing the quota on the number of lobsters any fisher can catch would have a protective effect on the lobster population: This is correct, since reducing the number of lobster catches will allow the animal population to reproduce more, leaving offspring capable of reaching sexual maturity, mating and reproducing again, and thus increasing the population size and stabilizing it.

d. If left unregulated, the lobster population will likely increase: This is not correct. There need to be some regulation or management, because if not these animals will continue to be caught, even in the reproductive season, not allowing the population to stabilize. In this case, the population will likely decrease, rather than increase.