The latest information on pearl farming in Tahiti.
07/04/2026
Between the Tuamotu atolls and the Leeward Islands, an impressive aerial operation recently unfolded with remarkable precision. Six tonnes of pearl oysters were transported by air, mobilizing Air Tahiti teams and industry professionals over several weeks. A highly technical ballet in which every stage, from aircraft preparation to final unloading, determines the survival of cargo as precious as it is fragile.
Everything begins well in advance, in the airline’s offices. Moevai Hauata and her teams coordinate a tailor-made cargo flight linking Tahiti, Fakarava and Raiatea. Aircraft availability, service coordination, operational constraints - nothing is left to chance. “We depart at 7:05 and return to Papeete at 14:35. Our priority is to impact scheduled flights as little as possible,” she explains, describing an organization requiring multiple adjustments to fit into an already dense schedule.
On the eve of departure, the aircraft undergoes a complete transformation. The ATR-72 is reconfigured into a cargo version, its seats removed to accommodate the load. “We remain roughly within the same capacity, between 6 and 7 tonnes,” specifies Moevai Hauata. A necessary adaptation to transport these hundreds of containers filled with mother-of-pearl.
In Fakarava, on departure day, activity begins at dawn. Hatchery teams work to prepare the spat, the result of several months of effort. “You need to plan six months ahead to secure a date. Then the entire organization takes shape over several weeks to ensure everything is perfectly aligned,” explains Ana, a hatchery employee.
Once inspected, nearly 200 containers are loaded on board with extreme care. Every element is secured rigorously to prevent any movement during flight. “This is about both aircraft safety and cargo integrity,” emphasizes Jean-Yves Iutoa, station manager in Fakarava. Beyond the economic stakes, aviation safety is also at play.
After just over an hour of flight, the aircraft lands in Raiatea. On the tarmac, teams are ready. But here, every minute counts. The oysters, removed from their natural environment for several hours, must be re-immersed as quickly as possible. “Unloading 5 to 6 tonnes takes between 45 minutes and an hour. There’s no time to waste,” explains Steeve Chong Hue.
The logistics chain then continues at sea. “We aim for a total of two hours, including the 40-minute boat transfer to the farms,” adds Landry, a pearl farmer. The oysters are then placed back into appropriate baskets, regularly moistened to limit biological stress and maximize survival.
Despite high costs and inevitable losses, this type of air transport remains the only viable solution to rapidly connect the scattered archipelagos of French Polynesia. Since the beginning of the year, three similar operations have already transported more than one million oysters to Raiatea.
A precise, discreet yet essential logistics system serving a key sector of the local economy: pearl farming, whose success depends as much on the expertise of producers as on the mastery of these extraordinary operations.