Pearl Farming, Manihi

Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Tue 27 Apr 2010 19:07
 
Tuesday 27th April
 
First a bit of info:
 
Tahitian cultured pearls are formed inside the Pinctada Margaritifera Oyster, which are found throughout the lagoons of Polynesia. The densest populations are found in the Tuamotu and Gambier archipelagos. This oyster is the only one in the world that is capable of producing the vast array of colours that characterise the Tahitian pearls. It takes an enormous amount of work to obtain the beauty and perfection that have made Tahitian pearls world renowned. It begins with the collection of microscopic oyster spat, which are raised till they are large enough to impregnate with a shell nucleus. Around 18 months later, pearls are delicately harvested. In all it takes years of hope and long hours just to produce one pearl.
 
As soon as the oysters are ready to be grafted, they are removed from the 'collectors', the lines that the oysters are attached to that hang around 7 metres below the surface. First they are sorted: the smaller ones are sent back to the lagoon for a longer growth period and the more sizeable ones are prepared for the graft. On average it takes about two and a half years for an oyster to reach graftable size. The graft is an extremely complicated operation. At first it looks like a simple incision in the gonad (the reproductive organ), the placement of the graft tissue (a small piece of mantle from another oyster) and then the nucleus. At closer inspection it becomes clear that without a detailed understanding of oyster anatomy, highly developed dexterity and complete focus, it wouldn't be worth an attempt. After the minutely detailed graft, it takes another 16 months before the pearl can be harvested. In all, it takes nearly four years of work to create one pearl! This ceaseless process, from the raising of the osyter to the cleaning, to the graft and the harvest, sets the rhythm of life of a farm. After the first harvest comes the second graft where a new nucleus is placed in the gonad where a pearl has just been removed; only oysters that produce quality pearls are grafted a second time. It is possible to create up to four pearls consecutively within the same oyster.
 
 
 
So, at 09.30 we were picked up by Fernando to be taken on what was merely described as a pearl farm visit in the lagoon. Non of us expected quite what he had planned for us! Just as we'd left the boats he asked if we had our snorkel and masks to which we replied "No" as we weren't expecting to need them as we believed we were purely visiting a pearl farm. He then told us that we could each have one pearl for free but if we wanted it we had to dive down and get it. Now this sounds quite simple but in actual fact the osyters are attached to a rope which is 4 metres plus under the water and he wanted us to swim down with just a snorkel and mask and pick one! Before we knew it we were at the farm (buoys floating all around the middle of the lagoon) and we were jumping in the water. There are little shacks dotted around the 192 sq km lagoon all surrounded by buoys, which are in effect marking out their fields. Paul has trouble with his ears when he dives so simply swimming down to 4 metres would be dangerous for him and I was in charge of the camera so it was down to Amy to represent the Harpers! The line of rope stretches probably more than a mile and every foot or so was a string of 10 oysters draped over the rope and this is what you have to grab and bring back to the surface. This all sounds very simple but it really is not as first of all you have to get down to the rope, then you have to untangle the string of oysters and then reach the surface without damaging your ears and running out of breath. Fernando found it all very amusing but for some reason, I guess years and years of practice, pearl farmers can swim down to something stupid like 35 metres without a tank and hold their breath for an extraodinary length of time. Anyway Amy managed it without too much difficulty and she was congratulated by Fernando for a perfect dive, then we all headed to the building where the real farming is carried out!
 
 
A pearl farm sat on a coral bed
 
  
 
The 'collectors' which are full of baby osyters.................5 baby oysters on Paul's hand
 
 
First Fernando dives down to the osyters and below you can clearly see him holding a string of 10
 
 
  
 
Amy diving down and resurfacing with the goods!
 
 
The farm where all the grafting takes place
 
  
 
 
Amy chose her oyster and it was lucky dip as to whether there was one in there
 
  
 
Popping the sack that contains the pearl and holding her treasure
 
   
 
And finally eating the osyter that she chose
 
  
 
My turn - choosing the oyster then rummaging around for the pearl
 
 
The result!
 
   
 
Paul was pleased with his pearl and plans to have it made into a pendant!
 
  
 
And now for the technical part, the actual grafting. On the left Fernando is cutting up the graft tissue and to the right is the graft tissue with the nucleus ready for the first harvest
 
  
 
Here he is inserting the graft tissue and the nucleus into the gonad for the first or second harvest
 
 
The difficult part - trying to choose pearls for a necklace - we were hours!
 
I'd go as far as to say that today has probably been the highlight of the trip, the experience has been incredible and it far exceeded our expectations. Fernando, his family and his way of life are inspiring and we should all learn from people like him. Simply diving down and choosing your own pearl is a once in a lifetime experience and something that non of us will ever forget!