Overview
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Benoît BELIAEFF: Director of the Ifremer Pacific Center, PhD in biomathematics from Université Paris 7, Habilitation to direct research from Université de la Méditerranée, - UMR 241 Oceanian Island Ecosystems, Ifremer Pacific Center, 98719, Taravao Tahiti, French Polynesia
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Gilles Le MOULLAC: Researcher in ecophysiology, PhD in organism and population biology from the University of Caen, - Habilitation to direct research at the University of French Polynesia, - UMR 241 Oceanian Island Ecosystems, Ifremer Pacific Center, 98719, Taravao Tahiti, French Polynesia
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Denis SAULNIER: Researcher in functional genomics, PhD in interaction biology from the University of Paris 6, Habilitation to direct research from the University of French Polynesia, - UMR 241 Oceanian Island Ecosystems, Ifremer Pacific Center, 98719, Taravao Tahiti, French Polynesia
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Chin-Long KY: Genetics researcher, PhD in genetics from the École nationale supérieure d'agronomie de Montpellier, - Habilitation to direct research at the University of French Polynesia, - UMR 241 Oceanian Island Ecosystems, Ifremer Pacific Center, 98719, Taravao Tahiti, French Polynesia
INTRODUCTION
The pearl is one of the few natural gems produced by an animal organism, making it a universal luxury item. However, certain scientific and technical aspects relating to its production remain little-known. In fact, the biological model of the pearl oyster, the flagship bivalve mollusc of Polynesian lagoon environments along with the clam, and the extraordinary zootechnical specificities leading to pearl production constitute particularly extensive fields of investigation. Aquaculture of Pinctada margaritifera (cumingii variety) for black pearl production is an essential activity in French Polynesia. This industry ranks second in French marine aquaculture (after oyster farming) and is the second largest source of revenue for French Polynesia (after tourism), despite the global economic crisis and the structural overproduction it has been experiencing since the 2000s. Pearl farming also plays a vital role in preserving the social fabric by maintaining jobs on the atolls and limiting the exodus to the island of Tahiti. In 2015, the industry counted 536 producers on 26 islands and atolls, covering a total sea surface area of almost 7,800 hectares. P. margaritifera has been the focus of a major research and development effort for over a decade. The resource, less abundant than in the past, and the overproduction of pearls to the detriment of their quality, have made Polynesian stakeholders aware of the need for sustainable management to improve competitiveness on the international market.
This article describes the current state of pearl farming in French Polynesia, and the economic and technical challenges associated with pearl oyster farming. These challenges have led scientists to take a closer look at this emblematic Pacific species, in order to gain a better understanding of the biological processes governing its life cycle. The major physiological functions (nutrition, reproduction, biomineralization) and genetic bases (diversity, selection) for improving the species are described, with a view to producing quality pearls that will no longer rely solely on the passive collection of spat in the natural environment, but on the active production of selected spat - the challenge of sustainable, modern pearl farming.
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The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference
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Pearl farming in French Polynesia
Bibliography
- (1) - HART (A.), TRAVAILLE (K.L.), JONES (R.), BRAND-GARDNER(S.), WEBSTER(F.), IRVING (A.), HARRY(A.V.) - Western Australian Marine Stewardship Council Report Series No. 5: Western Australian Silver-lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada maxima) Industry. - Department of Fisheries, Western Australia. 316 p. (2016).
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Websites
Ifremer, http://wwz.ifremer.fr/
POLYPERL program, funded by the Agence nationale de la recherche-agrobiosphère, http://www.polyperl.org/
Directorate of Marine and Mining Resources in French Polynesia,
Regulations
Texts regulating pearl farming (updated June 2013) http://www.peche.pf/
Classification
Deliberation no. 2005-42 APF of February 4, 2005 defining the products derived from pearl farming in French Polynesia and laying down the rules governing the classification, transport, marketing and export formalities for Tahitian...
Patents
Guezennec, J.; Simon-Colin, C.; Kouzayha, A.; Gueguen, Y.; Bachere, E. Nucleus Coated with a Film-forming Coating Having Antibacterial and Cicatrizing Properties and the Method for Obtaining Same. U.S. Patent 20130152865, 20 June 2013.
Guezennec, J.; Simon-Colin, C.; Kouzayha, A.; Bachere, E. Nucleus Covered with PHA. U.S. Patent 20130263793, October 10, 2013.
Joubert, C.; Tayalé,...
Directory
Producer organizations
GIE and professional associations :
List of pearl farming EIGs and unions 03.11.2015, http://www.peche.pf/IMG/pdf/liste_des_gie_syndicats_perliculture_nov2015
Training organizations
Center des métiers de la mer de Polynésie...
Statistical and economic data
Worldwide production of marine cultured pearls
It is not easy to obtain recent data on the production of marine cultured pearls worldwide; the data collected from the main productions are summarized in table 1 . Readers should be aware that the pearl market and pearl production are particularly volatile. For example, the figures for...
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