Small business concern about environmental impact of larger business.

Economics Economics Questions
1

I recently read an article about a small business owners concern about the possiblities of another busniess affecting his. I have always had a tough time with concerns like this, because there isnt a clear line of property and ownership, or if one can even be established.

http://www.caller.com/news/2011/aug/28/saving-family-business/

If you didnt read the article, a local restaurant owner, who buys his sea food from the local fisherman that fish in the close by bay, worries that a proposed power plant, which will have it’s waste pumped into the bay, will have such effects on the sea life that it will either heavily diminish or disappear. Since his restaurant has been using the bay for product for his restaurant for many years now, it seems he believes that the power plant shouldnt be allowed to come in a change how things work.

Can someone explain this in terms of property rights and/or other economic philosophy?

Thanks.

2

The government prevents people from homesteading schools of fish. As such, the power plant can wreak havoc without any consequences.

Electricity companies are very well connected with governments, so this is not in any way surprising.

For more, see: http://vforvoluntary.com/the-environment-and-natural-resources (5 videos)

3

Wouldn’t homesteading of fish territory be a thing in “the” ideal society?

4

( in my vision: )

Only if you’ve improved their territory (fish farms). If they’re in the wild, and someone passes along them without harming them, then there’s no conflict.

5

Right, but you’ve only homesteaded rights to fish, not to block all passageways. I agree with the fish farm thing.