The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), a United Nations Trust Territory administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994, encompassed a vast expanse of the western Pacific, including what are now the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The fishing industry in the TTPI was historically dominated by artisanal and subsistence fishing, with local communities relying on the abundant coral reefs and coastal waters for species such as skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, reef fish, and various invertebrates like trochus and sea cucumber. In the latter half of the 20th century, the region saw the emergence of commercial tuna fishing, particularly through the licensing of foreign purse seine and longline fleets targeting skipjack and yellowfin tuna for export, which became the top fish catches. This shift brought economic benefits but also raised concerns about overfishing and sustainability. The legacy of the TTPI’s fishing industry continues to shape the economies and food security of its successor states, which remain heavily dependent on both local fisheries and revenue from tuna fishing licenses.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.