This report describes the socioeconomic and ecological characteristics of the community of PiisPaneu
(Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia), providing strong baseline information to the PiisPaneu
community to support the consolidation of sustainable (ecologically and socioeconomically)
use of the marine resources within Piis-Paneu municipality. Extensive socioeconomic and fisheries
surveys were conducted to understand the underlying socioeconomic context of the area, and the
characteristics of the fisheries activities. Additionally, existing ecological data regarding the marine
resources within the municipality were compiled and analyzed to provide sound ecological
baselines. Socioeconomic surveys showed that households in Piis-Paneu (once completely selfsufficient)
have today expenses averaging $4,500 per year, mostly associated to the purchase of
imported foods, and fuel for fishing and transportation. In a place where income opportunities are
scarce (91% of fishers report no alternative income opportunities), 80% of households in Piis-Paneu
depend on the commercial exploitation of marine resources as their main source of income. The
traditional management of these marine resources (associated with reef ownership and temporal
closures) has eroded over the last decades. Simultaneously, modern marine resource management at
the state level has failed to materialize. Under this scenario, the reefs of Piis-Paneu municipality are
today de-facto fully open, with virtually no limitations on exploitation. Under this lack of
management, and with easy access to the urban markets of Weno (Chuuk capital), levels of marine
resources commercial harvesting in Piis-Paneu have greatly increased over the last decades, with
over 65% of fishing done today for income purposes. In addition to local harvesting, 75% of
commercial fishers from neighboring islands are targeting the remote reefs of Piis-Paneu, further
increasing fishing pressure. While traditionally dominated by finfish landings, low prices have
driven most commercial fishers of Piis-Paneu towards invertebrate harvesting, specifically targeting
the more profitable sea cucumbers. Nevertheless, reef fish still provide most of the subsistence
catch for Piis-Paneu. The ecological effects of increasing fishing pressure over the last few decades
are already evident across the reefs of Piis-Paneu. Reef fish populations are now dominated by
faster growing and less preferred species (small acanthurids and scarids), and show a significant
trend toward higher abundances and larger sizes with increased distance from the island of PiisPaneu.
Analysis of landings further confirm these trends, with catches dominated by small
acanthurids and scarids, and with lower fishing success and fish catch sizes at the reefs near PiisPaneu
island. Similarly, invertebrate populations show clear effects of over-exploitation, with most
commercially valuable species present at very low densities across the municipality, sometimes at
reproductively unviable levels and below the threshold density at which commercial fishing should
be considered. Invertebrate landings confirm these trends, with lower than expected T. maxima
sizes, and sea cucumber landings dominated by the low-priced H. atra. Further supporting the
generalized trends in fish and invertebrate populations, most fishers in Piis-Paneu report, overtime,
decreases in both abundances and sizes of main targeted species, especially pronounced in the case
of sea cucumbers, with over 90% of fishers attributing decreases to overharvesting. Comparatively,
Piis-Paneu benthic communities appear to be in relatively good health, with an average coral cover
of 36% (46% for calcifying organisms), contrasting with a macroalgae cover of just 6%. While not
yet evident, maintained fishing pressure could, in the future, alter the ecosystem balance, with
effects eventually cascading down to the benthic communities. A possible indication of early signs
of such alterations is suggested by high densities (up to 83 individuals/ha) of A. planci found only at
the most exploited reefs adjacent to Piis-Paneu island.