The Micronesian U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands have a small but rapidly expanding pearl farming industry based in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). While only three farms are currently operational all show sings of expansion and growth, indicating the enormous potential for pearl farming in the region.
At the forefront of expansion is Black Pearls of Micronesia Inc. (BPOM) based in Majuro, RMI. Started by Hawaii Residents Neil Sims and Dale Sarver some years ago, BPOM had their first pearl harvest last year and have undergone rapid expansion in the last year. Included in this expansion are new farm site and hatchery in Majuro. BPOM is also looking for joint venture partners in an effort to ramp up their expansion efforts. Dale Sarver said in a recent press release, "As well as expanding BPOM's own 'nucleus' farm, we would like to involve local Marshallese partners in developing 'satellite' farms in the surrounding lagoons." Sarver added, "We have now reached the stage where we would like to begin this expansion." BPOM currently employs 19 full-time staff.
Also based in the RMI is the Robert Reimers Enterprises (RRE) Pearl Farm at Nam Lagoon on Arno Atoll. Started five years ago, RRE also had its first pearl harvest in 1998 and currently has about 11,000 shell under cultivation. Hampered in this expansion efforts by a chronic shortage of pearl oyster spat, RRE's CEO, Ramsey Reimers recently collaborated with CTSA and the University of Hawaii (UH) Sea Grant extension service in a spat collection trial on Jaluit Atoll. Mr Reimers is also exploring the possibility of hatchery production of spat and expansion of the RRE pearl farm through joint venture partnerships.
About 1000 miles Southwest of Majuo is the tiny atoll of Nukuoro in Pohnpei State, FSM, which is home to the third operation pearl farm in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. Started in 1995 with significant technical assistance from the CTSA regional aquaculture extension agent, this community-owned and -operated farm had its first pearl harvest in 1999 and is currently the only operating farm that sustains itself on wild spat fall. The Nukuoro pearl farm, which is managed by CTSA Industry Advisory Council member Toshiyuki Rudolph, has 14,000 shell under cultivation. A grafting technician has been scheduled for early in the year 2000 to "seed" 11,000 of the farm's oyster stocks. The Nukuoro community was also the recent beneficiary of a CTSA/UH Sea Grant sponsored workshop on making jewellery out of pearl oyster shell, an important aspect of maximising pearl farm profits.
CTSA, in conjunction with the UH Sea Grant Extension service and the College of Micronesia Land Grant program continues to support the expansion of the pearl industry in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. By learning from the successful farming in other Pacific Island nations such as French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, it is hoped that pearl framing will eventually contribute significantly — and sustainably — to the economies of these developing island nations.
Source: CTSA Regional Notes, 11 (1) Fall, 1999, p. 1.