A private pearl farming operation in the Marshall Islands announced in 2001 a harvest that holds promise for the country’s economic future.

Robert Reimers Enterprises estimated the value of its 2001 harvest at around USD 50,000 — comparable to Tahiti (USD 200 million) and the Cook Islands (USD 40 million).

However, the company emphasized that the lack of government support and resources dedicated to pearl farming is slowing the development of an activity that could become the country’s leading economic sector. According to Robert Reimers Enterprises, global demand for pearls is such that several pearl farms could operate simultaneously in the Marshall Islands, generating benefits for all local stakeholders.