Pearl Farming, Manihi
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Tue 27 Apr 2010 19:07
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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!
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