2. Genus: Pinctada Pearls in fashion (mostly) Pinctada margartifera Tahitian peals (black) Pinctada fucata Akoya pearls (classic) Pinctada maxima South Sea pearls

3. Pearls are the only organic gems and require no processing to reveal their natural beauty. 1 in 2,000 pearl oysters contain a natural pearl. Natural pearls are formed when the pearl oyster reacts to an irritant by coating it with nacre, the shiny iridescent material found on the inner surface of the shell. Natural pearls are usually small, of various colors and irregular in shape. The high value of natural pearls led to the creation of pearl fisheries in nearly every part of the world where pearl-producing mollusks were found. Most of these pearl fisheries were short-lived because the fishers soon over-exploited the natural stocks.

4. Prompted by the high value and scarcity of natural pearls, Japanese researchers developed methods that brought pearl production under the control of humans in the early twentieth century.

5. Importance To Cultivators Sell meat, shells, and mostly pearls Importance to Businesses provide oysters to consumers in various ways: 1.restaurant cooks and serves oysters 2.jewelry business fashions oyster pearls into jewelry 3.Stores sell oyster shells to be used with arts and crafts Importance To Government In terms of oyster meat, the estimate of annual worldwide oyster cultivation is 3.2 million bushels/$20 per bushel. The cultivation of pearls is harder to put a price, but approximately 10 tons produced.

6. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE DOUBLE-STRAND NATURAL PEARL NECKLACE. $ 3.7 million

7. $2.3 million at Sotheby’s in 1992

8. Japan (make up 80% of pearl industry) Australia Indonesia Myanmar China India Philippines Tahiti

11. Find a good location Collect sperm larvae Thermal stimulation induces spawning. Larvae are free-floating in the water Larvae must be a few weeks old. Larvae develop into juveniles, move to a “nursery” area or juvenile net. Wait a few months, transfer juveniles to a bigger net Wait >2 years to graft oysters Move to a bigger net and wait another 1 ½ year to harvest pearls

13. A/n nucleus/irritant (usually mother of pearl) is inserted with a piece of donor mantle tissue into the pearl pocket. If it is rejected then can create deformed “Keshis” “Rejected” meaning no nucleus because the oyster got rid of it, but the mantle tissue remains and eventually formed a baroque shaped form with no nucleus inside of it. Oysters may be seeded more than once (species specific)

14. Raft Culturing Mostly used in bays

15. Long-line culture method Cages are hung from horizontal ropes or chains connected to floats. Oysters are threaded at onto a small thread or rope that is hung from a raft. Good for open ocean environments

16. On-bottom culture Can only be used in areas of granite or coral sand composition of the sea bottom.

17. Pearls are harvested after 2 – 6 years except some that are ready around 8 months Harvesting is done in the winter months X-ray’s determine pearl size before harvesting Harvested pearls are then cleaned, polished, and treated

18. Food is supplied by filtering water In larval and nursery stage, fed with microalgae and algae. Little to no labor until grafting and harvesting time

19. Temperature 20 – 25C Salinity Prefer higher salinities, but tolerate wide range. Bottom Gravelly Avoid sandy or muddy bottoms, reduce pearl quality. Depth Optimum depth at ~ 15m

20. ADVANTAGES Almost all new pearls come from aquaculture Almost any size, color, luminosity, shape, etc. Little labor DISADVANTAGES Limited production of more expensive pearls. Expensive to start Time consuming (2 years before most harvesting is ready) In competition with imitation pearls. Can be effected by weather or natural disasters. Possibly dangerous harvest

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