Progress in Establishing a Pearl Farming Industry in Kiribati, Central Pacific
By Sandrine, Monday 1 November 2004 at 15:29 :: Pearl Farming Around the World
In 1993, James Cook University and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Kiribati jointly launched an experimental project aimed at creating a viable pearl farming industry in Kiribati.
This project was initiated in response to two major findings: the shortage of exportable products in the archipelago and the proven success of pearl farming in Eastern Polynesia. The initiative was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Creation of a Hatchery and Nursery
Initial studies conducted in the Gilbert Islands revealed the very low presence of Pinctada margaritifera, the black-lipped pearl oyster, compounded by poor natural spat recruitment. This finding led researchers to prioritize hatchery production as the only viable way to develop the pearl farming industry.
In 1995, a hatchery was established on the island of Tarawa, complemented by a nursery on nearby Abaiang. These facilities have expanded significantly over the years. Today, the hatchery regularly produces large quantities of spat: during the first half of 2003, two production cycles yielded a total of 6.1 million spat.
Larval survival rates are particularly high, typically reaching between 30 and 50% during rearing. The nursery and grow-out facilities can now accommodate nearly 80,000 oysters — juveniles and adults — which also serve as a demonstration farm for staff training.
First Harvests and Project Expansion
The first experimental grafting was carried out in Abaiang in 2001, with the first pearl harvest in 2003. A second grafting, involving 10,000 oysters, was undertaken in August 2003.
Since then, project activities have been expanded to new sites within the Abaiang lagoon and other islands in the Gilberts.
A Structured Development Plan
The growth of pearl farming in Kiribati will be strengthened by the development of a comprehensive plan and the establishment of a Pearl Oyster Coordinating Committee. This plan will serve as a framework for the industry, involving the local population and integrating both technical and policy aspects of its evolution.
The Committee, bringing together relevant ministries and various institutions, will advise the government on measures to support and structure this emerging sector.