The latest information on pearl farming in Tahiti.
30/12/2025
On Manihi, in the Tuamotu Archipelago, pearl farming remains one of the atoll’s main economic drivers. Despite shortages of pearl oysters and production challenges, pearl farmers continue their efforts to preserve the lagoon and pass on their expertise. A look at the men and women who keep the precious black pearl alive.
On this northern Tuamotu atoll, the black pearl is above all a story of passion and perseverance. Fabienne Dombi chairs the management committee responsible for ensuring the sustainability of the industry. Each pearl-producing atoll has its own committee, and Manihi’s has existed since 2019.
"The management committee brings together pearl farmers, fishermen, tourism professionals - all the occupations connected to the lagoon. But pearl farmers make up the majority," she explains.
On a daily basis, pearl professionals must deal with many difficulties, the main one being the shortage of pearl oysters. Without this essential element for grafting, no pearl production is possible.
"The problem for all pearl farmers in French Polynesia is the supply of pearl oysters. On Manihi we are lucky because Takapoto is not very far away and provides us with many oysters. There are also hatcheries in Fakarava that manage to supply us. Collection has started again a little in Manihi. There is hope," says Fabienne Dombi.
Beyond production, pearl farmers are also involved in preserving their lagoon environment.
"We carried out clean-up operations in the pearl farms and on land. We were able to collect more than 80 tons of waste. Pearl farmers worked hard, retrieving the stations that were in the lagoon and bringing them back on land. That is what we will try to recover at the beginning of the year," she adds.
Among the well-known figures in the industry is Angèle Mataoa. A pearl farmer for more than thirty years, she decided to diversify her activity by welcoming visitors passing through the atoll.
"The idea is to share all the stages of pearl farming. It is not just about buying a finished product without understanding the work behind it. A pearl represents about a year and a half of work before it is ready," she explains.
Despite the obstacles, the passion remains intact, and visitors often leave impressed by the complexity of the craft.
"We really got a glimpse of the grafting process and how it works. It was perfect. The amount of work involved is enormous. It requires hours of work and great precision," says Lisiane, a visitor to the atoll.
In Manihi, the black pearl continues to shine. It remains the symbol of a unique know-how passed down from generation to generation in the heart of the Tuamotu lagoons.