Monday 23 June 2025
A second pearl oyster hatchery opens in Arutua
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.
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.