The dissolution of the public industrial and commercial establishment (EPIC) is scheduled for November 30, 2013. This decision marks a major restructuring of the pearl sector, with the elimination of the organization responsible for the promotion and legal protection of the pearl.

Of the 12 employees at the Maison de la Perle, only one holds the status of seconded civil servant, while the other 11, under private contracts, will be laid off. This announcement was confirmed by Nuihau Laurey, Vice President of the government, who emphasized that this closure was part of a “rationalization of public action” and that the usefulness of the establishment was no longer justified.

According to him, much of the Maison de la Perle’s activities were already being handled by the Directorate of Marine Resources. In light of the lack of enthusiasm among pearl farmers and internal reorganizations, the government decided to reassign these missions to the Directorate of Marine Resources, leading to the closure of the institution.

Created in 2009, the Maison de la Perle was tasked with promoting and protecting the pearl and pearl products, as well as overseeing the sorting, classification, and evaluation of pearl production. This closure marks a turning point in the institutional approach to the sector, highlighting the challenges faced by the Tahitian pearl industry.