Micronesian Counselor, Issue 40

Hezel, Francis X. (2002-02-15). Micronesian Counselor, Issue 40. Micronesian Counselor (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Micronesian Seminar. pp. 1–8.

• Has attachment: File:6W8CZPM8.pdf

Abstract: The lead article, Spoiled Tuna: A Fishing Industry Gone Bad, by Matthew Jacobs, examines the failure of the FSM’s tuna industry despite its great natural potential. The essay traces the early optimism around developing tuna as a cash export and the later collapse of initiatives due to mismanagement, corruption, and limited local capacity. It notes how tuna, once a subsistence staple, became a symbol of squandered opportunity.

Additional sections describe examples of government-backed ventures in Pohnpei and Chuuk that ended in heavy debt, the closure of processing facilities in Kosrae, and disputes in Yap over foreign access agreements. Commentary also draws on experiences in the Marshall Islands, where attempts to build a viable tuna industry encountered similar problems.

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