South Pacific Commission bottom fishing projects have operated at many locations in the tropical Pacific since 1974. This paper presents a brief review of the first project, the Outer Reef Artisanal Fisheries Project which terminated in 1977, and describes in more detail the Commission's current project, the Deep Sea Fisheries Development project. The aim of the Deep Sea Fisheries' Development Project is to encourage development of a small-scale fishery for deep water bottom fishes occurring on the outer reef slopes and on sea mounts in depths of 100-40Om. The project spends several months at one place under the control of a master fisherman. It demonstrates the techniques of deep water droplining using wooden handreels, monofilament line and wire terminal rigs. Fishing is done from local boats, either governroent or private. Local fishermen receive on-the-job training in all aspects of the operation. Between March 1978 and March 1980 the project visited American Samoa, Tonga (twice), Niue (twice), Yap, Tanna (New Hebrides), Kosrae, Palau, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. Lutjanid fishes comprised about half the catch by weight, of which Etelis oculatus, E carbunculus and Pristipomoides sp. were the most important. Other important types were carangids, serranids, lethrinids and gempylids. The average catch in kg per reel per fishing hour varied from 2.8 at Niue to 9.6 at Kosrae. It is considered that in several places the catch rates achieved are sufficient to make this type of fishing economically viable.