travel south pacific french polynesia bora bora pearl farm

Another common tourist attraction of the islands is the pearl farm. Strangely enough, it is a "manufactured" industry to help the economy.
We learned that Japanese experts had been hired to set up the industries and teach the locals how the process works.
The highly skilled workers needed to implant the irritating "seed" in the oyster, which eventually causes the oyster form a protective pearl around it,
are brought in regularly from Japan to do the work.
What are considered the best "seeds" come from the Mississippi River in the U.S.
We learned the famous "black pearls" and other colors of exotic pearls are determined by the color of the muscle tissue
taken from a mature oyster and implanted in the pearl-generating oyster."
All in all, an interesting process, and depending on the guides, can be an interesting side trip... at least the first time.

TRAVEL: 2007


This location has earned an four star (very good) rating from
Travel Fanatics Unlimited
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unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc

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This pearl farm was artfully decorated with nets, shells, and boardwalks for the tourists.


    
The guide explains the seven year life of the oyster pearl (left). The implanting of the "irritant" is demonstrated (right).



Periodically, the oysters must be removed from the lagoon and washed before they are returned.



A little hamming it up from the guide, 2007.



These two "totems," at least one seemingly still under construction, were outside the Pearl Farm.
Whether they had any authentic historical value or not was not evident, 2007







copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc

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page last revised august 2022