The latest information on pearl farming in Tahiti

In 2015, Polynesia's blue economy generated reported revenues of 39 billion Fcfp, though IEOM estimates suggest the actual figure could approach 47 billion Fcfp. Despite this oceanic wealth, economic valorization remains moderate, hindered by various structural obstacles.

Maritime transport stands as the primary driver of this economy, accounting for a quarter of total revenue—10 billion Fcfp annually. This sector remains a cornerstone, supporting both inter-island commerce and international trade.

Aquaculture shows significant untapped potential. While its 2015 revenue capped at 500 million Fcfp, its development could reach 5.7 billion Fcfp by integrating processing and commercialization. However, the specific accounting of pearl farms in remote areas partially skews current estimates.

Between 2010 and 2015, marine-related sectors saw an average annual growth of 8%, led primarily by fisheries and shipbuilding. These positive trends chart a path for the future.

Seafood products, the spearhead of Polynesian exports, earned 10 billion Fcfp in 2015. Meanwhile, the tourism industry, deeply tied to the ocean, generated 46 billion Fcfp—14.4 billion of which came directly from maritime activities, according to ISPF figures.

The blue economy currently employs nearly 4,850 people. Fishing and pearl farming remain traditional pillars, heavily weighting goods exports. The yachting and cruise sectors are also thriving, with 800 boats recorded in Polynesia in 2015.

Despite these advances, IEOM identifies vast untapped potential, particularly in aquaculture. Large-scale projects like the Hao aquaculture farm could profoundly transform the industry in coming years.

In response, Teva Rohfritsch, Minister of the Blue Economy, emphasized the strategic importance of marine resources for Polynesia, announcing new initiatives to maximize sustainable exploitation of this invaluable oceanic asset.

The story of this find resembles a modern fairy tale. When his boat's anchor got caught on a massive giant clam off the coast of Palawan, the fisherman discovered a pearl of staggering dimensions: 30 centimeters thick by 60 centimeters wide. The man, completely unaware of the astronomical value of his treasure, simply kept it for years as a good-luck charm, carefully stored under his bed in his modest thatch-roofed hut.

"I was stunned when I saw it on the kitchen table," confided the tourism officer, recounting her first encounter with this extraordinary gem. "I immediately made the fisherman understand that hiding such a treasure was pointless and that it deserved to be displayed to the public."

Weighing an impressive 14 kilograms, this titanic pearl far surpasses the previous record held by the famous "Pearl of Allah" or "Lao Tzu Pearl," also discovered in Palawan's waters in the 1930s and valued at several tens of millions of dollars.

Since Monday, the precious object has been on display in a secured glass case at Puerto Princesa City Hall, the island's capital. Local authorities eagerly await the official assessment by international gemologists to confirm the authenticity and estimate the value of what could be one of the most significant gemological discoveries of the century.

Richard Ligad, a municipal officer of Puerto Princesa, wanted to clarify: "The fisherman has not signed any donation documents to the city. This extraordinary pearl therefore remains legally his property." An important detail as the potential value of this discovery could reach dizzying heights on the international market.