Category: Economy

A mission to restore the prestige of Tahiti’s black pearl oyster shells: This is the goal of Econacre, a study launched in 2019 by the Directorate of Marine Resources and recently presented to pearl industry professionals.

The concept? To unlock the full economic potential of mother-of-pearl beyond pearl cultivation—creating new jobs and business opportunities from this underutilized resource.

During a workshop, pearl farmers, artisans, researchers, bankers, and entrepreneurs discussed the study’s findings and emerging opportunities. Currently, both oyster shells and flesh remain undervalued, even as the global black pearl market experiences renewed growth.

In the past, wild pearl oyster shells could reach up to 37 cm. But intensive pearl farming has pushed traditional shell harvesting aside, leaving artisans without quality raw materials.

The Econacre study outlines two development pathways:
1️⃣ Local focus: Leveraging existing resources and techniques for immediate economic impact, particularly by repurposing shells from pearl farming
2️⃣ Global ambition: Creating high-value international supply chains

For Cédrik Lo, pearl farming project manager, preserving traditional craftsmanship while adapting to local realities is key—a vision combining lagoon conservation, job creation, and skill development across the islands.

Identified opportunities include:
• Enhancing oyster farming and processing
• Expanding mother-of-pearl handicrafts
• Developing the korori (oyster flesh) industry
• Diversifying into agriculture, animal feed, and construction materials

The Directorate is now supporting pilot projects to implement these initiatives. For context, nearly 1,700 tons of empty Pinctada margaritifera shells were exported in 2018, generating 210 million Fcfp—proof of an untapped economic opportunity.

The time has come to transform this overlooked resource into a driver of sustainable development.

Recent coronavirus prevention measures announced by the French Polynesian government are raising growing concerns in the pearl industry.

The temporary suspension of work permits for Chinese nationals, coupled with recommendations for workers currently in China to delay their return, could directly impact pearl production.

While these decisions are understood from a public health standpoint, they add strain to an already vulnerable sector. The majority of pearl grafters—a crucial link in the production chain—are Chinese and typically return home for Lunar New Year celebrations. Uncertainty over their timely return now threatens to delay operations.

Rainui Sanquer, President of the GIE Poe no Raromatai, stressed that “without grafters, there is no production,” highlighting the urgent need for solutions.

Pearl dealers share similar concerns. Sabine Lorillou, President of Tahiti’s Cultured Pearl Merchants Association, warned of potential supply disruptions: “There could certainly be a slight break in the supply rhythm. So this does pose a problem…”

Should restrictions extend beyond three to four months, the consequences could be severe for an industry already grappling with market volatility. A race against time appears underway to maintain the fragile balance of French Polynesia’s pearl economy.

Pearl farmers are sounding the alarm about critical challenges facing their industry. They blame the 2017 local legislation governing pearl production and trade for causing price drops, particularly after the elimination of export quality controls. They also strongly oppose the sale and export of rejected pearls (rebuts).

Members of the Small and Medium-Sized Pearl Farmers Union of French Polynesia (SPMPPF) and the Federation of Marine Resources Professionals (FPRME) held a press conference Thursday morning. They expressed frustration over a persistent “communication breakdown” with the government spanning three years, despite repeated appeals. SPMPPF and FPRME President Mia Williams denounced feeling systematically ignored by authorities.

Farmers specifically criticize the July 18, 2017 law, asserting prices have plummeted since its implementation – a decline exacerbated by COVID-19. They highlight the disappearance of X-ray quality controls and the creation of a “reject pearls” category as particularly damaging.

To counter this crisis, farmers propose an emergency action plan:

1. An outright ban on selling/exporting rejected pearls, with immediate destruction required
2. Mandatory nacre thickness controls to maintain product quality
3. Quality-driven pricing to reverse market devaluation

While the 2017 law established a Pearl Farming Council, Williams calls it “an empty shell,” criticizing delayed implementation – only 9 of 25 pearl-producing islands have formed management committees. She urges simplified committee structures for faster rollout.

In response, Pearl Farming Minister Teva Rohfritsch notes the price decline began in the early 2000s, maintaining the 2017 law aimed to ensure sustainable resource management. He announced an August meeting with the Pearl Farming Council and management committees to develop post-COVID recovery strategies. The minister also pledged to propose exemptions for maritime occupancy fees and pearl export duties to relevant authorities.

Tahiti’s pearl farming sector, a cornerstone of the local economy, is facing an unprecedented crisis since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With commercial flights suspended, the industry has been paralyzed. The absence of Chinese grafting technicians, essential for oyster seeding, has severely slowed down production.

Sabine Lorillon, president of the Cultured Pearl Traders’ Union, warns of the gravity of the situation. The sector is in limbo: sales and purchases are frozen as foreign clients remain stranded abroad. When trade resumes, there are fears of a drastic price drop, potentially driving pearl values far below the current 500-600 Fcfp per pearl.

While high-quality pearls retain their luster, professionals fear mounting pressure from buyers to slash prices, which could devalue accumulated farm inventories. Thomas Esen, head of Rikitea’s Pearl Farming Management Committee, notes this crisis may accelerate the closure of many pearl farms that were already struggling pre-pandemic.

The lockdown of Chinese grafters has halted production progress. Only basic oyster maintenance tasks can currently be performed. With no pearl sales possible, some farmers have been forced to cut employee wages, worsening an already precarious economic situation.

Amid this uncertainty, industry professionals have zero visibility for the coming months. They also worry that territorial quarantine measures may deter foreign buyers. Sabine Lorillon concludes that while the sector won’t disappear, recovery will be slow – and Tahitian pearls may lose their premium positioning in the global market.

Teva Rohfritsch, Vice President in charge of the blue economy, has responded to criticism from pearl farmers following the announcement of his crisis management measures.
They accuse him of contributing to the decline in pearl prices. In an official statement, Rohfritsch emphasized that the government’s priority is to support struggling families during the health crisis while safeguarding the cash flow of pearl industry professionals.

He stressed that the current situation is exceptional and requires solidarity from all players in the pearl industry—from producers and traders to jewelers. The Vice President also clarified that collective efforts are essential to navigating this unprecedented economic and health crisis.

Rohfritsch further announced that the government is preparing a post-crisis action plan, which will be presented at the next meeting of the Pearl Farming Council. This plan aims to strengthen the pearl industry once the crisis subsides, particularly through measures to revive international markets while leveraging lessons learned from this challenging period.

Finally, the Vice President underscored that all options are being considered to support the pearl sector, depending on how the situation evolves. The statement reiterated that solidarity and cooperation are more crucial than ever to ensure the industry’s resilience in the face of current challenges.

The Polynesian government recently announced the exemption of local pearl farmers from taxes on pearls, including the specific export duty on pearls (DSPE).
This measure, introduced as part of the economic support plan led by Vice President Teva Rohfritsch, has raised concerns among international market players.

Two black pearl sellers’ associations, based in Hong Kong and Japan respectively, have expressed strong concerns about the potential consequences of this tax exemption. According to them, the removal of the DSPE could lead to a drop in pearl prices on the international market. This duty, which is an export tax, plays a crucial role in filtering out lower-quality pearls and maintaining the average price of pearls at an acceptable level.

The presidents of the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong and the Tahiti Pearl Promotion Society of Japan issued a statement warning the Polynesian government. They emphasized that the temporary removal of the DSPE could lead to an overproduction of low-quality pearls, disrupting market balance and causing a devaluation of unit prices.

According to the associations, this measure also risks harming the credibility of the Tahitian pearl market. Consumers, who are key drivers of the industry, may hesitate to buy pearls perceived as having diminished value. This phenomenon would inevitably lead to a decline in sales, threatening the long-term stability of the industry.

An unusual aerial ballet unfolds in Polynesian skies: Air Tahiti’s passenger ATR 72 aircraft transform into specialized cargo carriers. Instead of travelers, their cabins now carefully transport 130,000 pearl oysters between Manihi and Raiatea in a mission critical to the territory’s pearl industry.

Only two specially modified ATR 72s in the fleet can handle this delicate operation. “We completely reconfigure the interior,” explains Thierry Caer, Technical Director. “Seats removed, loading rails installed, and protective shoji paneling added to shield the precious cargo.” In under three hours, the plane becomes a 74m³ flying hold capable of carrying 12 pallets.

On the ground in Manihi, tension runs high. Each oyster is meticulously weighed to stay within the 5-ton payload limit. While expensive, air transport proves essential. “This keeps our oysters 100% healthy,” says pearl farmer Tapu. The rapid transit ensures specimens arrive stress-free and undamaged, ready for the next growth phase.

After ninety tense minutes airborne, the ATR lands in Raiatea. Now begins a carefully choreographed offloading operation where every second counts. “Thermal shock is our enemy,” says logistics agent Roland Peni-Marae as workers swiftly transfer oysters to waiting boats. Empty containers are immediately reloaded for the next shipment.

Pearl farm operator Alfred Martin has invested nearly 10 million Fcfp (≈$90,000) in this airborne restocking effort. Five boats stand ready at dock to return the oysters to sea at his Tahaa farm. There, under constant monitoring, they’ll continue developing what growers hope will become flawless Tahitian pearls.

This unsung logistical marvel highlights modern pearl farming’s complex demands—where cutting-edge aviation, split-second timing, and generations of marine knowledge intersect to sustain one of Polynesia’s most iconic industries.

“The Tahitian cultured pearl, Polynesia’s first jewel.” This powerful statement anchors the latest awareness campaign by the Tahitian Pearl Association of French Polynesia (TPAFP), designed to reconnect Polynesians with the beauty and significance of their pearl heritage. Today, we invite you behind the scenes to meet the skilled artisans who transform nature’s wonder into exquisite jewelry.

The Pearl’s Journey: From Ocean to Jewelry

A Tahitian pearl’s path from oyster to ornament involves multiple specialists, each playing a vital role as defined by Polynesia’s 2017 pearl farming legislation. Here are the key craftspeople who bring these gems to life:

1. The Nucleus Merchant

The journey begins with the nucleus—a small mother-of-pearl bead implanted in the oyster. These essential components are sourced, recycled, or imported by specialized merchants before being sold to pearl farmers.

2. The Grafter (Pearl Technician)

With surgical precision, this master artisan implants the nucleus into the oyster. Their expertise directly impacts pearl quality, making this one of the industry’s most skilled (and delicate) professions.

3. The Pearl Oyster Farmer

From artificial fertilization to larval rearing and oyster transplantation, these farmers oversee the entire growth cycle until oysters are ready for grafting or sale.

4. The Pearl Producer

Responsible for grafting, nurturing, and harvesting, these professionals can sell both raw and finished pearl products—the backbone of Tahiti’s pearl economy.

5. The Pearl Wholesaler

Acting as market connectors, wholesalers purchase pearls from producers and supply retailers worldwide with raw and processed pearls.

6. The Jewelry Retailer

These businesses transform pearls into wearable art, selling finished jewelry pieces to consumers through boutique shops and galleries.

7. The Traditional Pearl Artisan

Specializing in culturally significant designs, these craftsmen create handcrafted pearl items that celebrate Polynesian heritage.

Preserving the Craft: Education at Rangiroa

The Centre des Métiers de la Nacre et de la Perliculture (CMNP) in Rangiroa offers intensive 24-month training programs, teaching everything from basic pearl farming to advanced grafting techniques—ensuring these traditional skills endure for future generations.

For those interested in joining this luminous trade:
Contact the Direction des Ressources Marines et Minières or visit the CMNP in Rangiroa to explore educational opportunities in pearl cultivation and craftsmanship.

The atoll of Manihi, once the beating heart of pearl farming in French Polynesia, has seen its brilliance fade after hosting over 70 pearl farms in the 1980s and 90s. Today, fewer than ten farms remain, struggling under the weight of a prolonged crisis. The once-thriving industry has yet to recover from the dramatic drop in prices that upended the local economy.

The Rise and Fall of Pearl Farming

Pearl farming in French Polynesia began in 1961 in the pristine waters of Hikueru Atoll. The government, convinced of pearls’ potential, had invested 10 million Fcfp (French Pacific francs) as early as 1956 to exploit the Pinctada margaritifera oyster. Jean Domard, a French veterinarian and head of the Fisheries Department, played a key role in this success, paving the way for the industry’s golden age.

In December 1963, the first harvest of commercially viable round pearls yielded 276 gems. This breakthrough led to grafting attempts in Bora Bora, but private enterprises soon took over. Manihi became the first site for private pearl farms with the founding of the Société Perlière de Manihi (SPM) in 1968, led by Jacques Rosenthal and Australian biologist William Reed.

Over the years, pearl farming expanded to the Tuamotu, Gambier, and Leeward Islands, though the Austral and Marquesas Islands remained untouched. However, overproduction—combined with management missteps and questionable political decisions—triggered a steep price decline. In 1990, pearls sold for 6,490 Fcfp per gram, but by August 2003, the price had plummeted to just 800 Fcfp.

A Fading Industry, a Lingering Hope

Today, Tahitian pearls struggle to reinvent themselves, their heyday now a distant memory. Many farms have closed, leaving behind ruins and hundreds of lost jobs. Yet some family-run operations endure, clinging to hope through oyster spat collection.

A visit to Temotu Perles, run by Michel Grillot near Pension Poerani Nui, reveals these small, resilient ventures fighting to stay afloat. Though the scale of grafting has shrunk, the pioneering spirit that built the industry lives on. Despite challenges, the pearls’ quality remains high, and prices are competitive.

This journey into Manihi’s pearl-farming world offers a fascinating glimpse into a declining yet hopeful industry. It will captivate adventurers and history enthusiasts, echoing tales of legendary explorers like Henry de Monfreid, whose pearl-hunting expeditions in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa left an indelible mark.