A history and archaeology of fishing in the Federated States of Micronesia
Dublin Core
Title
A history and archaeology of fishing in the Federated States of Micronesia
Description
Tuna fishing in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is currently a sustainable and profitable fishing industry
and part of the leading world tuna fishing industry in the western Pacific.
This paper will outline how the FSM got to this position and what related tangible and intangible heritage
exists today. It begins with how indigenous people from the region implemented their fishing practices, using
techniques that were implemented in balance and harmony with their marine environment. When Japan colonised
the region, they were aware of the rich marine resources, proclaiming Micronesia had about ‘one-tenth of the total
known fish in the world’. In 1918 they enthusiastically began to develop a fishing industry, which included
exploiting shellfish, beche de mer, mackerel, different species of tuna, and skipjack tuna that became the dominant
species exploited, for the benefit of Japanese people and the Japanese economy. However, local people in
Micronesia were not actively encouraged to be part of this industry. The Japanese established a research station and
imposed several regulations in how the industry should be developed and implemented.
This activity occurred pre-World War II, and during the war many of the fishing vessels were converted to
assist in the war effort, then lost during the war. Following World War II, the U.S. attempted to revive the tuna
fishing industry in association with local people, having limited success, but today tuna is the FSM’s top export, and
part of a sustainable billion-dollar industry that provides benefits to local people. Coupled with the extensive
tangible and intangible heritage of indigenous fishing before Japanese times, a holistic picture of the cultural
landscape and seascape associated with fishing will be provided in this paper.
and part of the leading world tuna fishing industry in the western Pacific.
This paper will outline how the FSM got to this position and what related tangible and intangible heritage
exists today. It begins with how indigenous people from the region implemented their fishing practices, using
techniques that were implemented in balance and harmony with their marine environment. When Japan colonised
the region, they were aware of the rich marine resources, proclaiming Micronesia had about ‘one-tenth of the total
known fish in the world’. In 1918 they enthusiastically began to develop a fishing industry, which included
exploiting shellfish, beche de mer, mackerel, different species of tuna, and skipjack tuna that became the dominant
species exploited, for the benefit of Japanese people and the Japanese economy. However, local people in
Micronesia were not actively encouraged to be part of this industry. The Japanese established a research station and
imposed several regulations in how the industry should be developed and implemented.
This activity occurred pre-World War II, and during the war many of the fishing vessels were converted to
assist in the war effort, then lost during the war. Following World War II, the U.S. attempted to revive the tuna
fishing industry in association with local people, having limited success, but today tuna is the FSM’s top export, and
part of a sustainable billion-dollar industry that provides benefits to local people. Coupled with the extensive
tangible and intangible heritage of indigenous fishing before Japanese times, a holistic picture of the cultural
landscape and seascape associated with fishing will be provided in this paper.
Creator
Bill Jeffery
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Jeffery, Bill . 2023. “A history and archaeology of fishing in the Federated States of Micronesia.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok, and T. Kurt Knoerl. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/2029
Files
Citation
Bill Jeffery, “A history and archaeology of fishing in the Federated States of Micronesia,” APCONF-MUCH Proceedings Recently Added Items, accessed October 24, 2026, https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/items/show/655.