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A dearth of scientific data surrounding Micronesia’s coral-reef fisheries has limited their formal assessment and continues to hinder local and regional management efforts. We approach this problem by comparing catch-based datasets from market landings across Micronesia to evaluate fishery status in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, Yap, and Pohnpei. Initial examinations found that calm weather and low lunar illumination predicted between 6% (Yap) and 30% (CNMI) of the variances in daily commercial landings. Both environmentally driven catch success and daily catch variability increased in accordance with reef-fish demand indices. Subsequent insight from species composition and size-at-capture data supported these findings, highlighting reduced trophic levels and capture sizes where higher human-population-per-reef-area existed. Among the 12–15 target species and/or species complexes that accounted for 70% of the harvest biomass, capture sizes were consistently smallest for CNMI and Guam, often below the reported mean reproductive sizes. Comparatively, Pohnpei has the greatest potential for reef fisheries, with a large reef area (303 km2) and a moderate human population (34,000 people).However, the estimated harvest volume of 476 mt year−1 was 8–9 times higher than other jurisdictions. Even on Yap where the reef-fish demand index was lowest (67.7 people km−2 reef habitat), many target fish were harvested below their mean reproductive sizes, including the iconic green bumphead parrotfish and humphead wrasse, as well as several other herbivores. We discuss our results with respect to the contemporary doctrine surrounding size-spectra, catch composition, and catch frequencies that afford insight into fishery pressure and status. We posit that regional catch-based policies (initially) instituted at the market level, combined with area and gear-based restrictions, represent plausible vectors for improving Micronesian fisheries.

At the request of the U.S. Department of the Air Force, an assessment was undertaken by the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in conjunction with Trotta Associates to review attitudes of private companies toward sharing new or promising technologies developed for commercial use with the Department of Defense (DoD). The primary goals of the study were: 1. To examine private industry experiences when communicating, interacting, and collaborating with DoD as well as non-defense federal agencies and the private sector, specifically related to research and development (R&D) programs; 2. Based on these experiences, to identify actions DoD agencies can take to encourage more R&D ties between private industry and government, in order to draw on new commercial technologies, thus improving defense technology, eliminating duplicate development programs, and saving materials and resources. BIS designed and conducted the industry survey instrument and collected and entered the responses into the database which was utilized for analysis by Trotta Associates. Surveys were mailed to companies in the following technology areas: Advanced Composites, Power Electronics, Batteries, and Wireless Broadband. The selection of these particular technologies was essentially based on three criteria: 1) areas important to DoD; 2) technologies driven by commercial markets; and 3) areas with different industry structures and market forces. Surveys were sent to 1,022 companies representing the four technologies. After the initial surveys were distributed, the Air Force requested that additional surveys be sent to a special category of defense-supplier companies primarily in the aerospace and electronics field. Forty seven special category companies received surveys. To facilitate analysis, the survey responses were divided into two major sub-groups: defense contractors and non-defense contractors., Prepared in cooperation with Trotta Associates Inc., Centerport, NY.

The defense drawdown is causing a contraction in the defense industrial base. The impact will vary among regions of the country and among industries. Defense-oriented contractors will need capital to convert to commercial work. Depending on where the company is in its conversion effort, it may need financing to conclude product development or modification, to purchase or modify plant and equipment, to develop a marketing and sales staff, or to support higher levels of inventory and receivables. In the current situation, the small business community is concerned that it may be hurt disproportionately because it will be unable to obtain capital for converting products, processes, and technologies with dual-use applications to remain competitive in commercial markets. On the basis of available studies of small businesses in general, it appears that 15 to 30 percent of small businesses have difficulty obtaining capital. Among defense-oriented small businesses we polled, 28 percent of the respondents said that lack of access to capital was hindering their conversion efforts. Without specific information on each company's situation, it is impossible to determine whether the difficulty results from a market failure or simply from an efficient capital market rationing the available supply to the best use. We also found that many defense-oriented small businesses are having trouble dealing with commercial markets. Many report that they are finding it hard to identify markets and to establish commercial channels of distribution. Those companies reporting difficulty in obtaining capital indicate that the most pressing need is for capital for marketing and promotional activities. Dual use, Dual use applications, Capital, Capital availability, Financing, Loan guarantees.