Since 2016, the MICROLAG project, led by Ifremer, has been investigating the impact of microplastics on pearl oysters in the Tuamotu atolls. Initial findings reveal alarming contamination levels in Polynesian lagoons—a crisis threatening the future of the region’s pearl industry.
A Legacy of Plastic Waste
Following the pearl industry collapse in the 1990s, abandoned farms left behind tons of plastic debris. Over time, weathering has broken this waste down into micro- and nanoplastics, now pervasive in lagoon waters.
Groundbreaking Research
The three-year MICROLAG study includes work by Tony Gardon, a PhD student and recipient of a 200,000-franc award from Europcar at the University Research Conferences. His research focuses on four pearl-farming lagoons in the Tuamotu, where he collected water samples based on particle sizes filtered by oysters.
Alarming Findings
- 5–8% of sampled particles were plastics.
- Surface waters contain 2.5–4.5 particles per cubic meter, while deeper water concentrations soar to 176 particles per cubic meter—comparable to Mediterranean pollution levels.
- Over 40% of these microplastics originate from pearl farming equipment.
Oysters Under Threat
As filter feeders, oysters are highly vulnerable. Gardon’s experiments with polystyrene microbeads revealed:
- Reduced nutrient absorption
- Metabolic disruptions
- Declining gamete production
- Physical damage to reproductive organs
A Call for Action
While results are preliminary, Gardon plans to expand his research—particularly on nanoplastics, an emerging threat. The findings underscore an urgent need for solutions to protect Polynesia’s pearl industry, an economic treasure now at risk.
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