The latest information on pearl farming in Tahiti

This Saturday, around fifty pearl farmers attended a symposium organized by the company at the Intercontinental, demonstrating a clear intent to connect local producers to the demands of the global market.

Present in French Polynesia since 1990, the family-run Belpearl Group—founded by the Hajjar family from Lebanon—already works with 25 local farms. With extensive experience in Japan, Hong Kong, and now Tahiti, it has become one of the leading players in international pearl trading.

A Local Office for Evaluation, Sorting, and Sales

Freddy Hajjar, the future director of the Papeete office, explains the approach: “We are opening a downtown space where pearl farmers can bring their lots for accurate valuation. Many don’t really know the value of their pearls because the sorting process is not always well done.”

Belpearl also plans to offer free training in modern sorting techniques, inspired by artificial intelligence technologies already used in the diamond industry. This support aims to help producers better align with market expectations.

Fighting Rumors and Providing Direct Information

The initiative also seeks to dispel misconceptions surrounding pearl sales. “Sometimes we sell pearls at very good prices internationally, and then I hear rumors in Tahiti claiming the prices were low. That’s just coconut radio. It’s crucial to share the facts and give farmers the tools to track their sales and understand the true value of their products,” says Freddy Hajjar.

For Steve Pommier, a pearl farmer in Arutua and president of the local lagoon management committee, this new transparency is essential: “We’re often focused on production without knowing what buyers are really looking for. This direct link to the market helps us better guide our farms in terms of quality, size, and color.”

Direct Access to the Global Market

Arii Sichoix, a pearl farmer in the Gambier Islands, welcomes the new office: “Thanks to Belpearl, we now have access to the Hong Kong market with a reduced commission rate of just 5%. It also removes our dependency on a single local middleman. Although that intermediary—Robert Wan—has greatly contributed to our development, it’s time for us to evolve.”

Belpearl’s arrival in Tahiti doesn’t aim to replace existing players but rather to expand opportunities for pearl farmers and encourage a more open market structure.

Hatcheries: The Key to Solving the Nacre Shortage

However, international momentum will mean little if the upstream sector collapses. “The biggest challenge today is the scarcity of pearl oyster spat. Natural collection is no longer sufficient due to pollution. The future lies in hatcheries,” warns Arii Sichoix, who plans to launch his own hatchery in the Gambier Islands by next March.

“It takes two years from spawning to pearl harvest. If we want to ensure the sustainability of the sector, we need to act now,” he insists.

Rising Prices, But Caution Still Needed

The black pearl market remains volatile. “The Covid crisis slowed production, and trade tensions between China and the United States have also impacted prices,” notes Freddy Hajjar.

But the outlook is positive. “Prices have nearly doubled since Covid. We’ve gone from 600 to 1,200 XPF per gram. If demand holds, we could even reach 1,800 XPF,” he adds hopefully.

Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity

The message is clear: better to produce less, but with higher quality. Belpearl purchases pearls ranging from grade A to D, but is now also interested in E-grade pearls, once considered nearly unsellable, due to increasing global demand.

With broader sales opportunities, targeted training, and technical support, Belpearl’s expanded presence in Tahiti could breathe new life into a sector seeking stability.

Named Poe Tahiti Écloserie, this new facility aims to meet the growing needs of an industry under pressure.

Each year, more than 90 million spat are needed to supply the Polynesian pearl industry. Until now, this resource came mainly from natural collection in the lagoons of Takapoto, Ahe, and Manihi. These sites, which were once abundant, are now showing signs of depletion. “It's catastrophic,” laments Steve Pommier, founder of the new hatchery. He points to climate change and the overexploitation of broodstock as the main causes of this decline.

A family project born of a long-term vision

The idea for this hatchery did not come about overnight. As early as 2010, Steve Pommier and his wife had ambitions to create their own breeding center, with the aim of enriching the color palette of their pearls. A pearl farmer since 1997, Steve made numerous attempts, even going as far as prospecting in Japan and Indonesia, without success. The real breakthrough came in 2017, when he met the Marissal family, pioneers of pearl hatcheries in Polynesia.



Originally based in Charente-Maritime, France, the Marissal family has spent decades perfecting a unique method for breeding Pinctada margaritifera, the local pearl oyster. Their site in Fakarava now produces 10 million spat per year—a volume that is insufficient to meet growing demand. A natural partnership between the two families was therefore formed.

Transfer of know-how and close supervision

Beyond technology, the Marissal family is passing on a wealth of expertise to the Pommiers. Tamaiva Pommier, Steve's son, underwent a year of comprehensive training in Fakarava, participating in all stages of production. The supervision continues: the Marissals will oversee the crucial spawning phase twice a year. “We have authorization to produce up to six million spat per year, with the goal of obtaining three million per spawning,” says Steve Pommier.

Covering 525 m², the hatchery currently employs five people—laboratory technicians, divers, and laborers—all recruited locally. “Ultimately, we will need a team of ten people,” he anticipates.

Promising first spawning

On June 11, the first spawning took place. Three days later, the premises were officially inaugurated. Half of the 250 broodstock prepared laid eggs. The larvae are now being raised in tanks for about 20 days, fed with phytoplankton grown on site, before spending five months in the nursery. They will then be transferred to the lagoon. A full year is required before they can be sold to pearl farmers, who will then have to wait another year to begin pearl cultivation.

A commitment to a sustainable model

Beyond production, the Pommier family wants their project to be environmentally friendly. A deposit system will be set up to recover the sown oyster bed supports, to prevent them from ending up at the bottom of the lagoon, as is still too often the case.

For Steve Pommier, this project, which has been in the works for over 15 years, has become vital. “It's a matter of survival for the industry,” he says. While his initial goal of diversifying pearl colors remains intact, it has now taken a back seat. The priority is to supply spat to the Arutua farms. “And I'm not sure we'll be able to meet the entire demand,” he concludes.