Pearl farming is the Pacific region’s most valuable and highest priority aquaculture activity (SPC 2007; Ponia 2010). Pearl culture is compatible with traditional lifestyles and offers livelihood opportunities to coastal communities at a...
morePearl farming is the Pacific region’s most valuable and highest priority aquaculture activity (SPC 2007; Ponia 2010). Pearl culture is compatible with traditional lifestyles and offers livelihood opportunities to coastal communities at a number of levels, including oyster collection and sales, and the production of mother-of-pearl (MoP), mabé pearls and MoP handicraft items. These potential livelihood opportunities are recognised in French Polynesia through the active introduction of pearl farming to remote atolls and islands where they support local populations (Arnaud-Haond et al. 2003; Southgate et al. 2008; Andréfouët et al. 2012). Although the cultured pearl industry in Fiji is much smaller than that in French Polynesia, and still developing, it is large enough to support associated livelihood activities and collaborative research between the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia and the Ministry of Fisheries in Fiji is now beginning to generate significant benefits in ...
