The Black Pearl Experience
Karinya
Tim And Vicki Schofield, Captain Cal 7 and Jess 4
Tue 19 Jul 2011 05:58
We spent a day with a local guy who took us out in
his speedboat to see his pearl farm. On the island of Mahini, there are
several pearl farms, and although they all compete, they all work together and
respect each others farms.
Fernando our guide clearly has the area well and
truly sorted. He has a bread factory that he delivers to the boats in the
anchorage. He has a pearl farm. He grows tomatoes, peppers, basil,
various other herbs. he has a cafe. Does fishing trips and has a
huge room full of lines and hooks, makes our fishing rod look like a toy.
He is going to LA this autumn and NZ for Christmas with his wife and 5 kids,
clearly doing a good business. He was a great chap and went the extra mile
to explain all to us. We thanked him with a pack of ginger nuts all the
way from the UK, as being a Mormon he doesn't drink. We think he was
thrilled!!!!
The farms have several stages of pearl farming as
follows......
On route with our guide Fernando. Callum at
the helm - heaven at 20 knots!!
Jessica couldn't wait to get her hands on the wheel
too!!!!
Stage 1 - 3 weeks old. A line is placed
in the sea at a precise depth and the Oysters attach themselves to the
line. I ate one - as I found out later it was not a good
idea!!!
Stage 2 - the Oysters are grown, here they are 2
years old.
they are harvested from here, taken to the factory
for insemination (Yes really) Beautiful colours making for excellent arty
photos.
The factory!!!!!!
See next email for next
episode.