Federated States of Micronesia fish hook

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is comprised of four states, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap. Each state has its own unique traditional fishing practices. The islands of Yap are well-known for their stone currency as well as ach (stone fish weirs). From an aerial view; ach, large stone arrows, can be seen in the lagoon pointing away from the island.

Instead of actively pursuing fish during each fishing excursion, Yapese ancestors constructed ach to harness the power of tides and fish behaviour, by concentrating fish for more efficient capture. The placement of ach is strategic and in various shapes including arrow, zig-zag and V-shaped for different purposes and conditions. An ach that was depicted on a map in 1885 is still standing today.

See fish hook from the Federated States of Micronesia below. Click on the image to view full screen and use the zoom functionality for more detail.